casually
Americanadverb
-
by chance; accidentally.
Not many of my friends know about my art obsession—there aren’t many ways to casually slide Leonardo da Vinci into a normal conversation.
With the new security protocol, it is no longer possible to casually grant access permission to a website you do not control.
-
in a way that shows indifference, apathy, or a lack of intention or understanding.
She strolled in casually, as if she weren’t late.
I wonder if the people who are so casually throwing the word "radical" around know what it actually means.
-
in an informal way; without formality.
The wedding guests are casually but neatly dressed.
This casually elegant resort offers 4-star food and fantastic views of the coastline.
-
in an occasional or irregular way.
These are not people who go to the club casually—they are here every night of the week.
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in a way that does not involve emotional intimacy or commitment.
My sister has been casually dating a reality TV star, among others.
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in a way that does not require significant skill or time commitment.
Expect a casually paced hike suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of casually
Explanation
Use the adverb casually for anything you do in a relaxed, informal sort of way. When you talk casually with a friend, you chat about this and that, rather than having a serious conversation or a formal debate. Anything you do casually is really no big deal. If you're allowed to dress casually at work or school, you can pretty much wear whatever is comfortable. When you casually hit a home run during your softball game, you make it seem easy. And if you casually stroll down the street, you're clearly in no rush. This word comes from the adjective casual, which comes from the Late Latin casualis, "by chance."
Vocabulary lists containing casually
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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Maizy Chen's Last Chance
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Minecraft: The Island
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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.
Near a petrol station draped in anti-drone netting, an employee casually smoked a cigarette, waiting for the alert to be over.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
He runs his business by the “humanistic capitalism” he derived from ancient philosophers whose names he casually drops in conversation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
I wanted the toast, the cocktail, the sunglasses and, presumably, whatever version of myself knew how to arrange all three so casually.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2026
Recently, a tennis coach casually referred to LeVine as an athlete.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026
Once he arrived, Captain Cox and Thomas Jones spoke casually for a few minutes until Cox could avoid the subject no longer.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
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.
