Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

absolutely

American  
[ab-suh-loot-lee, ab-suh-loot-] / ˌæb səˈlut li, ˈæb səˌlut- /

adverb

  1. without exception; completely; wholly; entirely.

    You are absolutely right.
    Synonyms:
    unqualifiedly, totally

  2. without doubt or reservation; positively; certainly.

    I'll absolutely support your candidacy.
    Synonyms:
    definitely, unequivocally, unquestionably

  3. (of a transitive verb) without an object.

interjection

  1. (used emphatically to express complete agreement or unqualified assent).

    Do you think it will work? Absolutely!
absolutely British  
/ ˌæbsəˈluːtlɪ /

adverb

  1. in an absolute manner, esp completely or perfectly

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

  1. yes; certainly; unquestionably

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of absolutely

First recorded in 1525–35; absolute + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This stuff is all absolutely appalling, and it is an unqualified good that she’ll be out the door.

From Slate • Apr. 3, 2026

He warned that Scotland was facing "very significant" financial pressures and that he was "absolutely focused" on that issue.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The scheme was exposed when 10 residents whose identities were used on these emails said they absolutely did not send them, calling the messages “forged.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

“There’s absolutely an impact to the first quarter in terms of profitability and likely an impact in the second quarter as well,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told analysts two weeks ago.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

“Is this about joining the chevra? Because I’ve already told them a thousand times that even if I wanted to do it, which I don’t, Rabbi Pardo absolutely doesn’t want me there.”

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.