relatively
Americanadverb
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in a relative manner.
a relatively small difference.
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Archaic.
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with reference (usually followed byto ).
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in proportion (usually followed byto ).
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adverb
Etymology
Origin of relatively
Explanation
Use relatively when you want to make a statement about something compared to something else. After a zero degree day, 30 degrees might feel relatively warm. This adverb has to do with how things stack up next to each other. Relatively speaking, you could say you're tall if you're around very short people, even if you're just five five. Fat free ice cream is relatively healthy compared to other desserts, but it's still ice cream. If you've been sick for a week and you feel relatively better, you're feeling just a little better. This word only makes sense when you're comparing one thing to another.
Vocabulary lists containing relatively
Britain's Finest Hour Speech - Winston Churchill (1940)
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ly
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"Shakespeare's Life"
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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.
However, relatively few studies have explored whether these activities are connected to physiological aging itself.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026
Still, vegetation is relatively dry as the region heads into its peak fire season, and any ignition could quickly take off, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
But the widespread disruption caused by the Iran conflict may mean relatively few seats are available immediately.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
In other words, relatively few executives have warned that Wall Street’s estimates are unrealistic.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
The vast majority of those arrested are charged with relatively minor crimes.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
