not necessarily
idiom
: possibly but not certainly
—used to say that something is not definitely true
Seats in the front row are not necessarily the best.
"We're going to lose this game." "Not necessarily."
Examples of not necessarily in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But that is not necessarily true of the Sunni factions that still form an important part of their political base.
—
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
With all that being said, Nic Vansteenberghe is not necessarily counting on Dancing With the Stars.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2025
The implications for life are complex, but not necessarily discouraging.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
ChatGPT passed that benchmark earlier this year, inaugurating a new technological era, though not necessarily one of superhuman intelligence.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not necessarily
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Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2025
With all that being said, Nic Vansteenberghe is not necessarily counting on Dancing With the Stars.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2025
The implications for life are complex, but not necessarily discouraging.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
ChatGPT passed that benchmark earlier this year, inaugurating a new technological era, though not necessarily one of superhuman intelligence.
—Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not necessarily
Cite this Entry
“Not necessarily.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20necessarily. Accessed 25 Dec. 2025.
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