naturally
NACH-ruh-lee
Naturally (adv) means In a way that happens without artificial help or intervention. Example: “Her curly hair grows that way naturally, without any styling.”
adv
1
In a way that happens without artificial help or intervention.
"Her curly hair grows that way naturally, without any styling."
"The yogurt is naturally sweetened with fruit rather than sugar."
"These flowers bloom naturally in spring, with no need for special lighting."
2
Of course; as would be expected.
"Naturally, he was upset when he heard the news."
"Naturally, we invited you to the wedding, since you are family."
"You worked hard all year, so naturally you deserve a rest."
How to use naturally
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "without artificial help" or, used at the start of a sentence, "of course, obviously."
Common pairings
occurs naturally
naturally, of course
naturally gifted
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more naturally
- Superlative
- most naturally
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her curly hair grows that way _____, without any styling.
Etymology
From "natural" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for naturally
See all rhymes for naturally →Frequently asked questions
What does “naturally” mean?
The word “naturally” means in a way that happens without artificial help or intervention. In plain terms, either "without artificial help" or, used at the start of a sentence, "of course, obviously.".
How do you pronounce “naturally”?
“Naturally” is pronounced NACH-ruh-lee (/ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹə.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “naturally” in a sentence?
Here is “naturally” used in a sentence: “Her curly hair grows that way naturally, without any styling.”
What is another word for “naturally”?
Words with a similar meaning to “naturally” include innately and intrinsically.
What part of speech is “naturally”?
“Naturally” is an adverb.
Is “naturally” a common word?
“Naturally” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “naturally” have?
“Naturally” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a way that happens without artificial help or intervention.
What is the difference between naturally and artificially?
Naturally describes something that happens on its own, through nature, without human interference — hair that curls naturally, or a lake formed naturally. Artificially is the opposite: brought about by human intervention or man-made means, such as artificially coloured food. One points to nature taking its course, the other to deliberate human action.
Does naturally mean the same as 'of course'?
It can. Besides meaning 'without artificial help', naturally is often used to mean 'as you would expect' or 'of course', as in 'Naturally, she was delighted.' A third sense describes acting in a relaxed, unforced way — 'try to smile naturally'. The intended meaning is usually clear from the surrounding sentence.
What is an example of naturally in a sentence?
The wound healed naturally without medicine. Her hair is naturally curly. The pond formed naturally from rainfall. In each case, naturally shows that something occurred through nature or on its own, with no artificial treatment, styling, or intervention involved.
What is the opposite of naturally?
The main opposite is artificially, meaning by human-made means. Depending on the sense, other contrasts include synthetically, deliberately, or forcibly. When naturally describes a relaxed manner, its opposite is awkwardly, stiffly, or self-consciously. Which one fits depends on whether you mean 'not man-made' or 'not forced'.
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