obviously
Britishadverb
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in a way that is easy to see or understand; evidently
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without subtlety
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(sentence modifier) it is obvious that; clearly
obviously not everyone wants a bank account
Explanation
Something obviously true is clearly, totally, unmistakably true. There's just no doubt about it. Obviously is a word people use when they are sure of something and sure that it's plainly clear to others. When you get presents on your birthday, you're obviously happy. Dogs obviously like to chase squirrels. The sky is obviously blue. People also use this word when they're being mean or sarcastic. If you didn't know who walked on the moon, a friend might say, "Obviously, it was Neil Armstrong!"
Vocabulary lists containing obviously
Holes
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Novel Study: The Crucible, Act 2
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Frindle
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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.
He wants to win, obviously, but his joy comes from playing the game well rather than defeating another team.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2026
The oil market is obviously reacting, said Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst with Dow Jones Energy.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026
It isn’t enough for him to regurgitate all this bad history that’s been totally debunked, or to present this tendentious theory of the Constitution as though it’s obviously correct.
From Slate • Jul. 7, 2026
“But obviously, if we get to a point where we feel that we have overbuilt, then that is an option that we have.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
“Well, obviously he was agreeing with my position.”
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
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.
