inevitably

American  

[in-ev-i-tuh-blee] / ɪnˈɛv ɪ tə bli /

adverb

1. in a way that cannot be avoided or escaped; as will certainly or necessarily happen.

   All we parents can do is our best, and when we inevitably screw up, we know that tomorrow's another day.

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Other Word Forms

• quasi-inevitably
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of inevitably

inevitab(le) ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

If something is totally unavoidable, it is inevitably going to happen. Inevitably, the sun will come up tomorrow. The adverb inevitably comes from the negative of the French word for "avoid" or "shun." There are things you can put off for a while, but inevitably you're going to have to deal with them at some point, like telling your family that you crashed the car. No matter how free-spirited you imagine yourself, unless you are independently wealthy, you will inevitably have to settle down and get some sort of job, like writing and editing word definitions.

Example Sentences

Coventry City have modelled their transfer business in recent seasons on Brighton and Brentford's prudent work, but they will inevitably need to bring in experienced heads for their return to the Premier League.

From BBC • Jun. 23, 2026

There will inevitably be some wear and tear if you are having strangers in your house.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 22, 2026

But the conditions under which they worked inevitably shaped what they saw – and what they missed.

From Science Daily • Jun. 21, 2026

But when the inevitably cutthroat social dynamics of in-groups and out-groups lead the other players to turn on comedian Ron Funches, not even the ice-blooded Rausch can live with himself.

From Salon • Jun. 20, 2026

He had seen what that had done to other kids, how hard they fought to stay together and how destroyed they were when they were inevitably pulled apart.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

Related Words

• necessarily
• surely