definitely

adverb

def·​i·​nite·​ly ˈde-fə-nit-lē How to pronounce definitely (audio)
ˈdef-nət-
1
: in a definite way : in a way free of all ambiguity, uncertainty, or obscurity
I will definitely be there.
He's very smart and very funny and is definitely a practical actor. He comes to work to get his job done and to make the best movie possible …Anna Kendrick
Omaha is definitely not hip; green-haired XML programmers do not glide past gourmet coffee emporiums on Razor scooters.Adam Rogers
2
a
used in speech as a forceful way of expressing agreement or saying "yes"
"Do you think they'll win?" "Definitely!"
b
used in speech in the phrase definitely not as a forceful way of expressing disagreement or saying "no"
"Do you agree with him?" "Definitely not!"

Examples of definitely in a Sentence

that is definitely the kind of dog we're looking to adopt
Recent Examples on the Web One sneaker brand definitely got the memo, and there are tons of different styles available at Amazon. Jamie Allison Sanders, Peoplemag, 31 May 2024 There are definitely some villages that are heavily contaminated, that people just deserted and never came back to, and still haven’t come back to after them being liberated. IEEE Spectrum, 29 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for definitely 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'definitely.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

definite + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of definitely was in 1574

Dictionary Entries Near definitely

Cite this Entry

“Definitely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/definitely. Accessed 3 Jun. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on definitely

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!