apparently

[uh-pair-uhnt-lee]

adverb

1. as far as can be known or supposed.

   I discussed both options with the litigants, and they are apparently agreeable to either one.

2. obviously; clearly.

   Apparently, the tornado went right through the center of the town’s eastern district.

apparently

/ əˈpɛər-, əˈpærəntlɪ /

adverb

1. (sentence modifier) it appears that; as far as one knows; seemingly

Word History and Origins

Origin of apparently¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English; apparent ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Information apparently containing Capita data - including home addresses and passport images - began to circulate on the dark web.

Read more on BBC

Israel’s opponents, apparently including the state teachers’ union, don’t want that.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Three police officers have been killed and at least 15 other people injured in an apparently deliberate gas explosion at a farmhouse in northern Italy.

Read more on BBC

“We’re the great underdogs of the greatest American disaster in history, apparently. This little community,” said Rashi Kaslow, a boat rigger who lived in the Bowl for more than 17 years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They were apparently drawn by vibrations from their equipment, including a dry washer and a generator.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• allegedly 
• ostensibly 
• possibly 
• probably 
• supposedly 

When To Use

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.