namely

adverb

ˈnām-lē How to pronounce namely (audio)
Definition of namelynext
as in especially
that is to say there's always one person stuck with cleaning up the mess, namely me

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of namely Selena’s background was in Tejano, yet she was heavily influenced by heavy-hitters in pop, disco and R&B — namely Jody Watley, Janet Jackson and Donna Summer. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 Today, Richard Engel reports on the modifications some Ukrainians have made to daily life in the midst of a full-scale war with Russia, namely how doctors, patients, teachers and students have moved underground. — Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026 Horsch is being held on charges unrelated to the missing women, namely weapons and false identification offenses. — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Gayheart added that returning to work — namely, working on the musical adaptation of Jawbreaker — has proven a helpful creative outlet for her, and the beauty in these new experiences has reminded her to embrace every moment with her girls. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for namely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for namely
  1. especially
  2. specifically
  3. specially
  4. to wit
Adverb
  • Kindness and clarity can share the same sentence, especially when both people need an honest answer.
    — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
  • Other vipers are known to flick their tails, especially baby vipers with bright green or neon yellow tail tips that might appear like a wiggly worm to unsuspecting frogs.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of especially
Adverb
  • Even more specifically, if the Phillies are facing the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Series, Game 1 could call for a righty starter.
    — Matt Gelb, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • One downside of PocketGuard is that it’s not specifically oriented toward retirees.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of specifically
Adverb
  • The Right Way When cleaning, skip the abrasive sponges for soft cloths and use cleaners specially designed for ceramic cooktops.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Across the country, churches and city halls opened specially on Saturday so people could light candles, write down their thoughts about the deceased king in condolence books.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of specially
Adverb
  • The former is named for the patron saint of cooks and celebrates coastal Italian fare with a New Orleans tweak, to wit Chef Laura Collins’ Grilled Creole Oysters and Scampi Risotto.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Jan. 2026
  • Solo shows are everywhere, for obvious economic reasons, but now, in more than a few of these pieces, there’s another element in play for their creators — to wit, their streaming future.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2025
Definition of to wit

Browse Nearby Words

namelessness
namely
name of the game
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Namely.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/namely. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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