differently
Americanadverb
-
in a manner unlike another in character or quality; dissimilarly.
This home alarm system works differently from the one in your office.
-
in a way unlike a previous way.
I’m looking at life differently these days.
-
in diverse ways; variously.
Several of the sauces look similar, but they are differently flavored.
-
in an atypical way; unusually.
Dressing differently is just part of her bohemian style.
Etymology
Origin of differently
First recorded in 1350–1400; different ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
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.
One would have thought that government officials entrusted with students’ academic success would act differently.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
The Corona Centennial High football team has an interesting blend of players spelling their similar first names differently, leaving coach Matt Logan to be the referee as to which parents got the spelling correct.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
People with these disorders think and act differently to others and, among other things:
From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026
Then there's this, he said: AI models are getting better and better at detecting when they are being tested and might behave differently when they are actually deployed, fooling their masters.
From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026
People only looked at her funny sometimes because she chose to dress differently, with her long dresses and her parasol.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
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.
