apparently
Americanadverb
-
as far as can be known or supposed.
I discussed both options with the litigants, and they are apparently agreeable to either one.
-
obviously; clearly.
Apparently, the tornado went right through the center of the town’s eastern district.
adverb
Usage
What does apparently mean? Apparently means seemingly so based on the appearance of things. It’s a way of saying “it seems that” something is the case or is true. Apparently is the adverb form of the adjective apparent, which can mean readily seen, clear, obvious, or according to appearances. Apparently is most often used in this last sense—referring to things that appear a certain way but may not actually be so. In this way, apparently is often used as a sentence modifier, meaning that it modifies or changes the meaning of the entire sentence. It does this by qualifying the rest of the statement, as in We owe $500, apparently. It can also be used as a sentence substitute, meaning it can be used as a one-word response to a question. Example: Apparently, the store is closed, at least according to what Jim told me—I’ll double check.
Etymology
Origin of apparently
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; apparent ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
Apparently is an adverb meaning "evidently" or "obviously." After his sixth hot dog, you might say to your friend, "Well! Apparently somebody was hungry!" While apparently can mean "plainly" — like, duh — it can also mean "seemingly," which is almost "evidently" or "obviously," but not quite. There's a certain amount of guessing involved, based on appearances. The park ranger who shows up in the morning to examine the path of destruction through your campsite might say that it was "apparently the work of a hungry bear," not because he's totally sure, but because it definitely looks like something the bears around here would do.
Vocabulary lists containing apparently
"What, of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?" Vocabulary from the short story
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Long Way Down
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Five Feet Apart
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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.
The mall in the town of Kashima was apparently gutted by a gas explosion, a government source told the Kyodo news agency, collapsing ceilings and walls.
From Barron's ● Jul. 29, 2026
Weighed against harm that grave, an airplane is apparently a bargain.
From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026
Striking in these two apparently unrelated episodes is one word in particular — accuracy — and important lessons museums and historians can learn to combat these attacks on the integrity of historical research.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
“Among the Arnaults, apparently, we don’t discuss, we plot; we don’t deliberate, we compete,” he wrote.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
“Right. So what do you actually know about this person you apparently have a massive crush on and know zero basic details about?”
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
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.
