English Online Dictionary. What means absolutely? What does absolutely mean?
English
Etymology
From absolute + -ly, from Middle English.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈæb.səˌl(j)uːt.li/, /ˌæb.səˈl(j)uːt.li/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˌæb.səˈlut.li/, /ˈæb.səˌlut.li/
Adverb
absolutely (not comparable)
- In an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly, positively, wholly. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]
- Independently; viewed without relation to other things or factors. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]
Usage notes
- Absolutely is not to be confused with intensives such as very or indeed, as it is an unconditional term, absolutely/*very essential, vital or crucial.
Synonyms
- (in an absolute or unconditional manner): See also Thesaurus:completely
- (viewed without relation to other things): See also Thesaurus:individually
Derived terms
Translations
Interjection
absolutely
- Yes, certainly; expression indicating strong agreement. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.]
Usage notes
- Some commentators, especially in England, criticise the interjectional use as having no meaning beyond that of yes. This is not to mean that emphasis is useless, which of course, pragmatically speaking, it isn’t; rather, it means that absolutely is better avoided when there is no emphasis, or, in other words, when the meaning is simply Yes (compare, in French, the use of Tout à fait as an answer, with the meaning of Oui, which is advised against by the French Academy). On the other hand, emphasis can also be expressed in other ways: for instance, Yes, of course, Yes, indeed, Yes, certainly.
Derived terms
Translations
See also
- absitively posolutely