absolutely
AB-suh-loot-lee
Absolutely (adv) means Completely and without qualification. Example: “The film was absolutely wonderful, and we laughed all the way through.”
adv
1
Completely and without qualification.
"The film was absolutely wonderful, and we laughed all the way through."
"The rumour is absolutely false."
"I'm absolutely certain I locked the door."
intj
1
Used to express strong agreement.
""It was a great film, wasn't it?" "Absolutely!" he said."
""Do you want to come along?" "Absolutely!""
""Is the journey worth it?" "Absolutely!" she replied with a grin."
How to use absolutely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTotally and without doubt — often used simply to say "yes, definitely" in conversation.
Common pairings
absolutely not
absolutely certain
absolutely right
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more absolutely
- Superlative
- most absolutely
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The film was _____ wonderful, and we laughed all the way through.
Etymology
From late Middle English absolutly, formed from absolute plus the adverbial suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for absolutely
See all rhymes for absolutely →Frequently asked questions
What does “absolutely” mean?
The word “absolutely” means completely and without qualification. In plain terms, totally and without doubt — often used simply to say "yes, definitely" in conversation.
How do you pronounce “absolutely”?
“Absolutely” is pronounced AB-suh-loot-lee (/ˌæb.səˈlut.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “absolutely” in a sentence?
Here is “absolutely” used in a sentence: “The rumour is absolutely false.”
What part of speech is “absolutely”?
Depending on how it is used, “absolutely” can be an adverb and an intj.
Where does the word “absolutely” come from?
The word “absolutely” comes from Middle English. From late Middle English absolutly, formed from absolute plus the adverbial suffix -ly.
Is “absolutely” a common word?
“Absolutely” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “absolutely” have?
“Absolutely” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: completely and without qualification.
What is the difference between absolutely and completely?
The two are close synonyms and often interchangeable — both mean totally, to the fullest degree. Completely emphasizes that nothing is left out. Absolutely adds a note of certainty or emphasis, especially in speech, where 'absolutely!' works as a strong yes. Completely rarely stands alone as an answer in that way.
Does absolutely mean yes?
On its own, 'Absolutely!' is an emphatic yes — a way of agreeing completely and without reservation. As a general adverb, though, it simply means totally or utterly, as in 'absolutely certain.' The enthusiastic 'yes' meaning comes from that same idea of full, unqualified agreement.
What is an example of absolutely in a sentence?
As an intensifier it strengthens a word: 'the view was absolutely stunning' or 'I am absolutely sure.' As a reply it signals firm agreement: 'Can you help?' — 'Absolutely.' In each case it means completely and without any qualification, leaving no room for doubt or halfway measures.
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