clearly

American  

[kleer-lee] / ˈklɪər li /

adverb

1. in a clear manner.

   It is difficult to explain complex matters clearly.

2. without equivocation; decidedly.

   It is clearly out of the question to drop the case.

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clearly British  

/ ˈklɪəlɪ /

adverb

1. in a clear, distinct, or obvious manner

   I could see everything quite clearly

2. (sentence modifier) it is obvious that; evidently

   clearly the social services must be flexible

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Usage

What is a basic definition of clearly? Clearly means in a clear manner or way, without uncertainty. Clearly also means happening in a way that is obvious or occurring without question.Clearly is an adverb formed from the word clear, which means free from obscurity or free from doubt. If something happens without blurriness or cloudiness, it happens clearly. For example, when you speak clearly, you are not mumbling or stuttering.

• Real-life examples: Many people wear glasses to help them see clearly. Teachers try to explain subjects clearly to students so they don’t get confused or fail to understand the material. Many right-handed people struggle to write clearly with their left hand.
• Used in a sentence: I couldn’t hear clearly because I had water in my ears. 

Clearly is also used to mean obviously, undoubtedly, or evidently. You might use this sense of clearly when you are so confident about something that you believe there is zero doubt about it, as when it is clearly a bad idea to eat a sandwich that has meat that expired a year ago. Clearly is often used in arguments and opinions, though. Just because a person uses the word clearly doesn’t mean there is no room for disagreement or doubt.

• Used in a sentence: I am allergic to peanuts so it clearly wasn’t me who ate the last of the peanut butter. 

Related Words

Clearly, definitely, distinctly, evidently imply the way in which something is plainly understood or understandable. Clearly suggests without doubt or obscurity: expressed clearly. Definitely means explicitly; with precision: definitely phrased. Distinctly means without blurring or confusion: distinctly enunciated. Evidently means patently, unquestionably: evidently an error.

Etymology

Origin of clearly

First recorded in 1250–1300, Middle English clerli; clear, -ly

Example Sentences

Tammy Abraham's opener was clearly offside, Villa's full-back Lucas Digne inexplicably escaped conceding a penalty for handball and the Frenchman could easily have been dismissed for a reckless challenge as well.

From BBC

The opinion that really matters, though, is that of his gaffer and Rohl is clearly a big fan.

From BBC

“The chart clearly looks like it’s in a consolidation process,” Lebowitz said.

From MarketWatch

“The accumulation of them is what’s problematic and clearly what’s led MSF to say when you look at them as a whole, we are having here a militarization of parts of this hospital,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

However, when Jill saw what she believed to be the same animal two years later, that was clearly not the case.

From BBC

Related Words

• apparently
• certainly
• definitely
• distinctly
• evidently
• obviously
• openly
• plainly
• positively
• precisely
• seemingly
• surely
• undoubtedly