blithely
Americanadverb
-
without much thought, concern, or care.
I blithely went ahead with my project without really considering the impact it would have on my career.
-
in a joyous or happy way; cheerfully or lightheartedly.
Left to my own devices I would blithely live the rest of my days imagining new recipes and tweaking old ones.
Etymology
Origin of blithely
Explanation
The adverb blithely describes something you do in a casually cheerful, somewhat neglectful way, like when you blithely ride your bike down the street, not even thinking about all the homework you have to do. Something that's done blithely is careless, like a group of kids blithely dashing off across a frozen pond on their ice skates, forgetting about their slower friend. You could talk blithely about your brand new laptop, forgetting that your friend can't afford a new computer. Blithely also means "happily," without implying that anything is being overlooked or ignored, like a winning team blithely celebrating their victory.
Vocabulary lists containing blithely
Animal Farm
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Odyssey" by Homer, Books 8–13
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Stargirl
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Today — April 1st — we imagine, with our tongues blithely thrust deep into our cheeks, just how far wellness trends could go in 2026.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026
Hoecker says cutting jobs also signals to stock market investors worried about the "real and huge" cost of AI development that executives are not blithely writing blank cheques.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
In a feat that would become an instant legend, the captain blithely sails the ship into dock, then backs her into her berth while still under sail.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025
When asked by ABC News’ Mary Bruce about the propriety of hosting the prince, the president blithely dismissed the concern.
From Salon • Nov. 20, 2025
No more now would I blithely say, “Better give me half a dozen of those, Dave. Oh, and I’ll take eight of these—what the heck, make it a dozen. You only live once, eh?”
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
