alphabetically

American  

[al-fuh-bet-ik-lee] / ˌæl fəˈbɛt ɪk li /

adverb

1. in a way that follows the order of the letters of the alphabet.

2. in a way that uses an alphabet, rather than a syllabary or system of ideograms.

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Explanation

When you do organize something alphabetically, you arrange it in order of the letters of the alphabet. The fiction section of the library sorts books alphabetically by the author's last name. Dictionaries and encyclopedias are organized alphabetically, so that it's easy to find the word you're looking for. Some home cooks arrange their cookbook collection alphabetically by title, while others might place them on the shelf by color instead. The word alphabetically comes from alphabet, which is rooted in the first two Greek letters — arranged alphabetically, by the way — alpha and beta.

Example Sentences

This time the sectors are sorted alphabetically, with the full index at the bottom:

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

When Hacker inspected dealers, he said, he would advise them to file records alphabetically to make it easier to notice frequent buyers.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2023

But the custom of naming vitamins alphabetically in order of discovery continued.

From National Geographic • Nov. 9, 2023

The “settings” app is a labyrinth of different options for various apps and features, one that isn’t even organized alphabetically, with each option leading to more options that lead to even more options.

From Scientific American • Oct. 17, 2023

Liyana was last—Abboud—even though alphabetically she should have been first.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye