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adv B2 Upper-Intermediate

outwardly

OWT-wuhd-lee

Outwardly (adv) means On the surface or in appearance, as opposed to internally. Example: “Outwardly, he seemed fine, but inside he was falling apart.”

adv
1
On the surface or in appearance, as opposed to internally.
"Outwardly, he seemed fine, but inside he was falling apart."
"She remained outwardly polite even though she was furious."

How to use outwardly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAs far as anyone can see from the outside — often contrasted with how someone truly feels.

Common pairings
outwardly calm outwardly confident
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____, he seemed fine, but inside he was falling apart.

Etymology

From Middle English outwardly, outwardli, utwardliche, equivalent to outward + -ly.

Origin: Middle English

superficially to all appearances

Related words

Rhymes for outwardly

See all rhymes for outwardly →

Frequently asked questions

What does “outwardly” mean?

The word “outwardly” means on the surface or in appearance, as opposed to internally. In plain terms, as far as anyone can see from the outside — often contrasted with how someone truly feels.

How do you pronounce “outwardly”?

“Outwardly” is pronounced OWT-wuhd-lee (/ˈaʊtwɚdli/ in IPA).

How do you use “outwardly” in a sentence?

Here is “outwardly” used in a sentence: “Outwardly, he seemed fine, but inside he was falling apart.”

What is another word for “outwardly”?

Words with a similar meaning to “outwardly” include superficially and to all appearances.

What part of speech is “outwardly”?

“Outwardly” is an adverb.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial · etymology from Wiktionary