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

Relevance

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 The story, aimed at fans of Liz Moore and Tana French, according to its publisher, pulls from elements of van den Berg’s life — namely, her own experience in boxing. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2026 But Selznick had bigger fish to fry—namely, finishing the movie in time for its premiere. — Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026 Plenty of others, namely frustrated fans, are pondering the other stuff for him. — ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026 The pitching staff, namely the rotation, faces the biggest overhaul with left-handers Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga and David Peterson and right-handers Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and Colin Rea now in free agency. — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for namely
Recent Examples of Synonyms for namely
  1. especially
  2. specifically
  3. specially
  4. to wit
Adverb
  • Made from 270-thread-count long-staple cotton, the sheets have a crisp, breathable feel that's especially attractive to hot sleepers who prefer something lighter than silky sateen.
    — Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 7 Nov. 2026
  • But as a practicing Catholic, Pomiés says sometimes Uruguayan and especially officials misinterpret what secularism is.
    — Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of especially
Adverb
  • Researchers specifically tested whether adding Imdelltra could help patients live longer than continuing Imfinzi alone, which is already approved as a first treatment for this type of lung cancer.
    — Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Staff who work at harm reduction clinics set up specifically to help men who use steroids tell me that twenty years ago there were fewer users, and those users took longer breaks between cycles at lower doses.
    — Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of specifically
Adverb
  • One addition, however, were the protagonist’s rooms, which were specially built for the film.
    — Lale Arikoglu, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The court remanded the case to Harford County Circuit Court, where a new judge specially appointed to the case restored Penman to his job.
    — Bryan P. Sears, Baltimore Sun, 5 Nov. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All