as in secretly
in a manner intended to prevent knowledge or awareness by others
she confided to me privately that she was considering divorce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 privately
The loop will remove thousands of vehicles from surface roads daily and is entirely privately funded, according to a press release.
—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
It would be totally privately funded.
—Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
But as senators retreated to privately discuss the new plan, action stalled out.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Emails obtained by the Journal Sentinel show Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Commissioner Lafayette Crump were the only city officials who succeeded in meeting privately with Roundy’s executives to further discuss the closures.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The project is privately funded by individuals, foundations, corporations and churches.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
The expansion process was expected to launch after the league completed its most 2023 CBA and 2024 media deals, but commissioner Adam Silver put the brakes on those talks publicly and privately.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 25 Mar. 2026
By year’s end, the Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote on McCourt’s gondola project, estimated to cost $500 million and proposed as privately financed.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Epic, which is privately held, became the envy of the media landscape when Fortnite launched in 2017.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2026
It would be totally privately funded.
—Alysia Burgio, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
But as senators retreated to privately discuss the new plan, action stalled out.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
Emails obtained by the Journal Sentinel show Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Commissioner Lafayette Crump were the only city officials who succeeded in meeting privately with Roundy’s executives to further discuss the closures.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 26 Mar. 2026
The project is privately funded by individuals, foundations, corporations and churches.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
The expansion process was expected to launch after the league completed its most 2023 CBA and 2024 media deals, but commissioner Adam Silver put the brakes on those talks publicly and privately.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 25 Mar. 2026
By year’s end, the Los Angeles City Council is expected to vote on McCourt’s gondola project, estimated to cost $500 million and proposed as privately financed.
—Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Epic, which is privately held, became the envy of the media landscape when Fortnite launched in 2017.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for privately
Adverb
-
Caleb Elliott, 26, is a former Celina ISD middle school football coach and substitute teacher who is facing multiple state and federal charges tied to secretly recording boys in a Moore Middle School locker room.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
At Free Eden, Apple secretly runs a witchy femme cult in the boutique’s basement after hours with Cherry and Fig.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Shared information will be treated confidentially.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
He was not allowed to review medical records, examine facility health policies, assess staffing levels or speak confidentially with detainees.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Privately.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/privately. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
