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.
Those are surely factors, but what we are witnessing is a legal show trial, acting out institutionalized vengeance toward a mother who was severely and obviously mentally ill, something on which both sides agree.
From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026
Handing this estate has obviously taken longer than usual, given the death of your older brother who was the original executor.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
“Harder contact obviously equals better results,” Fuller said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
Ferrari operate a policy of equality between their drivers and only favour one over the other if it is obviously in the interests of the team.
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
“This is obviously important, or didn’t you catch the part where I said that lives depend on us?”
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
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.
