mysteriously

American  

[mi-steer-ee-uhs-lee] / ˌmɪˈstɪər i əs li /

adverb

1. in a mysterious way.

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Explanation

If something occurs in a strange or eerie way, you can say it happens mysteriously. Your little brother might mysteriously disappear every time the dog needs to be walked, for example. When something can't be easily explained, it happens mysteriously. Some people say that boats mysteriously disappear in a region of the Atlantic Ocean known as the Bermuda Triangle, and others tell stories of sick people being mysteriously healed by prayer. At the heart of mysteriously is the noun mystery, which had only a religious meaning until the late fourteenth century, and which is rooted in the the Greek word mysterion, "secret rite or doctrine."

Example Sentences

One of the sadnesses of the expedition was that Lewis failed to publish his account, and his descriptions, of more than 200 plant specimens, mysteriously went missing after his death.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

The Rolling Stones have mysteriously released a new limited edition single on vinyl only, under the band name The Cockroaches, further fueling speculation the British rockers are poised to drop a 25th studio album.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

In 2014, the duo brought to the screen the epic story of Claire Randall, a British combat nurse who is mysteriously transported back to 1743 Scotland and marries Scottish warrior Jamie Fraser to survive.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

It was meant to become a thriving community of 10,000 people, and even the then Prince Charles visited to check on progress - but the site was mysteriously abandoned more than a decade ago.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

“I’ve got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen,” observed Jo mysteriously.

From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott