accordingly
Americanadverb
-
therefore; so; in due course.
- Synonyms:
- thus, hence, consequently
-
in accordance; correspondingly.
- Synonyms:
- thus, hence, consequently
adverb
Usage
What does accordingly mean? Accordingly means done in agreement or in a corresponding way. When you do something accordingly, you are doing it in a way that agrees with or conforms to another concept. For example, It looks like it might rain, so plan your hike accordingly, means to be prepared to hike in the rain (by wearing rain gear, for example) or be prepared to cancel the hike because it is raining. Accordingly also means therefore or in due course. When school is canceled unexpectedly, for example, your teacher might say, “Accordingly, you will all be given an extra day to complete your reports.” Accordingly is still connecting a statement to a previous one. In this case, it introduces a statement that is a result of a previous one. You will have an extra day to finish your report because school was canceled. Example: It’s going to be very cold this weekend, so make sure you pack accordingly.
Synonym Usage
See therefore.
Etymology
Origin of accordingly
Explanation
Accordingly means in accord with, or in correspondence with something. If you learn that your so-called best friend is spreading nasty rumors about you, act accordingly and stop being her friend. Accordingly is the adverb form of accord, which means harmony, or agreement. We often use the phrase "act accordingly," which just means to behave in a logical manner based on what you feel, learn, or are told. If you are half-starved after being lost in the woods for three days, when you come across a house with a full kitchen, you will act accordingly. Accordingly can also mean "therefore." You were hungry, accordingly you ate.
Vocabulary lists containing accordingly
The Catcher in the Rye
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Declaration of the Rights of Man (1789)
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The Treaty of Paris (1783)
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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.
Treasurys had already increased accordingly, and demand was relatively strong for new bond sales during the first few months of the year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Nobody saw that coming - and those who were there celebrated accordingly.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
In light of the still-ongoing backlash, one may reasonably wonder whether Sony made a severe miscalculation here, and whether it may end up listening to the fans and readjusting accordingly.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
She added that researchers should also be cautious about treatment strategies that focus on altering Purkinje cell activity with the expectation that deep nuclei cells will respond accordingly.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 1, 2026
While deciding on a new key, though, keep in mind that you are also making the piece higher or lower, and choose keys accordingly.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
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.
