newly
Americanadverb
-
recently; lately.
a newly married couple.
-
anew or afresh.
a newly repeated slander.
-
in a new manner or form.
a room newly decorated.
adverb
-
recently; lately or just
a newly built shelf
-
again; afresh; anew
newly raised hopes
-
in a new manner; differently
a newly arranged room
Etymology
Origin of newly
before 900; Middle English; Old English nīwlice. See new, -ly
Explanation
When you describe something as newly happening, it just occurred. A newly hatched chick is barely out of it shell, and a newly arrived classmate just joined your class recently. If you just bought your enormous TV yesterday, you can call it newly acquired, and if your favorite movie finally came out on DVD this weekend, it's newly released. Doing something over again — or as if for the first time — can also be described this way, like when your newly single uncle goes on a blind date. Newly comes from new, with its Old English root neowe, "new, fresh, or recent."
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.
Newly built homes, however, are embracing multigenerational living.
From MarketWatch • May 9, 2026
Newly elected Reform councillor for Washington North Paul Donaghy said the results showed a clear message in Sunderland but he also believed his party received votes because people were "unhappy with the national picture".
From BBC • May 8, 2026
Newly discovered gold mines, he explained, go public, attracting speculative investors.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
Newly signed cornerback Trent McDuffie grew up hoping he could play for Sean McVay and the Rams.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026
Newly woken birds call to one another beneath the brightening sky.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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.
