definitely
Americanadverb
-
in a clear and definite manner; unambiguously.
-
unequivocally; positively.
- Synonyms:
- certainly, absolutely
interjection
adverb
-
in a definite manner
-
(sentence modifier) certainly
he said he was coming, definitely
Usage
What does definitely mean? Definitely is an adverb that usually means certainly or without a doubt. It also has this meaning when it’s used as a single-word response.Definitely is also sometimes used as an adverb to describe an action as clearly defined or precise. When definitely is used as a single word in response to a question or other statement, it is called an interjection or sentence substitute. When used this way, it is very similar to saying certainly or absolutely.Example: I will definitely be there tomorrow—I promise.
Related Words
See clearly.
Etymology
Origin of definitely
Compare meaning
How does definitely compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
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.
“There were definitely a couple things that I didn’t have on my radar, like the Latin Grammys was one of them,” Rojas said.
From Los Angeles Times
“If the service seems reliable and works pretty much on its own, I’d definitely be willing to use it more,” Wu said.
Stunned, he held his head in his hands after his disastrous performance and said afterwards his failure was "definitely mental".
From Barron's
And the message-board-born concept of a “lolcow,” a gullible user who can be goaded into making a fool of themselves on a regular basis, definitely predated the music video.
From Salon
Stoecker, who finished fifth in the women's skeleton finals on Saturday, also told Radio 4's Today programme that the circus had definitely prepared her for the "adrenaline" of skeleton.
From BBC
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.
