similarly
Americanadverb
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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.
Other global leaders have similarly looked to forge more reliable friendships elsewhere, and the reason for their concerns was on display at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last month.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
They also alleged that Texas' supply of the drug had become degraded, as Pike's lawyers have similarly argued.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
Now, astronomers are using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to investigate young star systems that appear to be experiencing similarly violent events.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
The study from Washington-based consulting firm EY Quantitative Economics and Statistics also found that the U.S. share of major-studio spending on film productions similarly fell from 74% to 42% between 1999 and 2024.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
They expected to receive a similarly considered answer.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
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.
