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
Zero-sum thinking returns—not necessarily because people are poor, but because progress no longer feels assured.
—
Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 25 Dec. 2025
That play was designed to lead to the check-down options, not necessarily take a shot down the field.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
That’s not necessarily a bad thing for the style of play former coach Chris Armas deployed, but Wells wants ball dominance and possession ahead of having to press and win the ball back — not the other way around.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025
That doesn’t mean the work of the Abbey has always been great, but a national theater is not necessarily supposed to produce the best plays in its country.
—Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for not necessarily
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.
Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 25 Dec. 2025
That play was designed to lead to the check-down options, not necessarily take a shot down the field.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025
That’s not necessarily a bad thing for the style of play former coach Chris Armas deployed, but Wells wants ball dominance and possession ahead of having to press and win the ball back — not the other way around.
—Braidon Nourse, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025
That doesn’t mean the work of the Abbey has always been great, but a national theater is not necessarily supposed to produce the best plays in its country.
—Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 23 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 2 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share