similarly
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of similarly
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How does similarly compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
When you do something similarly, you do it nearly the same way as someone else. At a school bake sale, you might decide to price your brownies similarly to your friend's Rice Krispie treats. Use the adverb similarly to describe something that's done in a way that mirrors or almost duplicates something else. If one little boy dresses up in a red cape at preschool, his best friend might costume himself similarly, in a red scarf and crown. When your neighbor tells you about her vacation in Hawaii, you might be inspired to travel similarly. The word comes from the adjective similar, which means "resembling," and has a Latin root, similis, "like."
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.
Budget burger chain Wallace has similarly spread across county-level markets where international chains remain scarce.
From Barron's • May 26, 2026
Iranian officials had similarly signalled progress in talks over the weekend, but foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that did not mean agreements would be reached on key issues.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
Most people react in similarly positive ways, expressing empathy or, my personal favorite, commiserating with me over their own nebulous medical conditions.
From Slate • May 23, 2026
They say disclosure has similarly improved, noting that managers were “willing to address granular questions on the site visit that we attended to Wodgina.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
If Lowell’s canal network really existed, the conclusion that intelligent beings inhabit Mars might be similarly compelling.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
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.
