conspicuously
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of conspicuously
Explanation
When you do something conspicuously, you do it in a way that's very obvious or easy to see. If you're conspicuously reading a novel during math class, your teacher will probably notice. The adverb conspicuously is perfect for describing things that happen in a clear or showy way. If you want to attract attention, you might conspicuously toss water balloons at cars driving by or conspicuously juggle oranges in the grocery store. Conspicuously comes from the adjective conspicuous, or "easily visible," which has a Latin root, conspicuus, "open to view or striking."
Vocabulary lists containing conspicuously
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.
The most conspicuously new feature of these editions is Rachel Greenwald Smith’s “Suggestions for Further Exploration” that appears in common at the end of each volume.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was conspicuously absent from his father's funeral, as senior regime figures joined thousands paying their respects to the late ayatollah on Sunday.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
Schwartz also highlighted one conspicuously large bullish bet: A single trader bought 7,000 calls with a strike price of $325 that were set to expire in July.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026
He was however conspicuously set to skip the main international ceremony marking the anniversary of the landings, which heralded an end to World War II, later in the afternoon.
From Barron's ● Jun. 6, 2026
In the man’s red-dotted tie was a dazzling horseshoe stickpin, glaring conspicuously.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
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.
