dutifully

American

[doo-tuh-flee, dyoo-] / ˈdu tə fli, ˈdyu- /

adverb

in a way that is required by moral or legal obligation, societal or cultural expectations, or a person’s position or occupation.

She dutifully registered to vote and received her ballot.
The player was stunned by the trade, but he dutifully reported to Cleveland after a decade in the Manhattan limelight.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of dutifully

dutiful ( def. ) + -ly

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.

Powlowski also defended the committee against accusations of bias, telling the Star that members have "dutifully listened to both sides".

From BBC • May 15, 2026

“He’s a soldier at heart that carries out his orders dutifully, and that makes him valuable to her.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

At this, America’s hockey dudes laughed dutifully and dude-ily, unaware of how disgusting people would find this tidbit of locker room talk.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

The assignment is defense, a role Smart has dutifully filled for his whole career.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026

She dutifully sat down on it and then slowly, very slowly, slid off it.

From "Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures" by Kate DiCamillo

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023