coherently

American  

[koh-heer-uhnt-lee, -her-] / koʊˈhɪər ənt li, -ˈhɛr- /

adverb

1. in a clear and logically connected, consistent, intelligible way; in a way that makes sense.

   None of the parties present was able to explain coherently what had happened.

   Your paper must have a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.

2. with a natural, harmonious, well-balanced agreement of parts.

   We’ve turned these goals into concrete initiatives that work coherently across humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts.

3. Physics, Optics. with electromagnetic waves in a fixed phase relationship maintained over time.

   A coherently illuminated system is especially useful for performing spectral analysis.

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Other Word Forms

• noncoherently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of coherently

First recorded in 1615–25; coherent ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

The scenario mostly serves as a reminder that despite the nonsensical choices leaders may be making, markets will find a way to adjust coherently with higher prices.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

Taken together, these dynamics point to a system that is functioning, but not coherently directed.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

OpenAI added that a single product surface would allow it to move more quickly and coherently.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

"Synthetic aperture imaging -- the method that allowed the Event Horizon Telescope to image a black hole -- works by coherently combining measurements from multiple separated sensors to simulate a much larger imaging aperture."

From Science Daily • Jan. 10, 2026

Finally, I awoke feeling able to talk to him coherently and understand what he said.

From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler