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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In the battle of the maybe-dueling Safdie brothers, Josh Safdie definitely had a better week than his brother Benny Safdie, even if the competition in the Best Director category could still leave the Marty Supreme filmmaker just outside the eventual top five contenders. Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025 That's definitely a big part of the premise. Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025 And that’s definitely the case with The Secret Agent. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025 The team definitely does not want Jackson to get back to the field early and risk him suffering an even worse hamstring injury. James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for definitely

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

Cite this Entry

“Definitely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/definitely. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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