religiously
Americanadverb
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in a way that is related to or concerned with religion.
We believe matters of faith should be handled by religiously educated staff.
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faithfully, sincerely, and with pious devotion.
The tribe religiously observes the rite of ancestral veneration as an integral part of their cultural heritage.
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with scrupulous or conscientious regularity or diligence.
Initially I took composting very seriously; I made a perfectly square pair of bins for composting and turned my piles religiously.
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habitually or without fail.
Religiously, every Saturday night, I recorded my favorite comedy show on BBC Radio.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of religiously
Explanation
If you do something religiously, you can be relied on to do it on a regular basis. If you never forget to floss your teeth at night, no matter how tired you are, you can say you floss religiously. You might go to church religiously, every single Sunday, but an activity doesn't need to be religious for you to do it religiously. Religion is the key to this adverb's origin — it originally meant just "in a religious manner." But these days you can use it to describe any activity you're devoted to, whether it's religiously watching your favorite TV show or drinking a cup of tea religiously every afternoon.
Vocabulary lists containing religiously
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.
Harvard spokesman Jonathan Swain referred to a previous statement that said, “Harvard College has long sought applicants from a variety of educational backgrounds, including religiously affiliated high schools.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
"I've watched him religiously for 10 years put his life on the line," Nigel says.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
Mr. Ackroyd is admiring of Auden’s poetic accomplishment, from his recondite early work to the later, more conversational and religiously inspired verses that some critics have disliked.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Between training her upgraded skills, she focuses on conditioning and religiously attends physical therapy sessions.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
This diet he administered religiously, seemingly bent on moulding George and me in his image.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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.
