necessarily

adverb

nec·​es·​sar·​i·​ly ˌne-sə-ˈser-ə-lē 

1

: of necessity : unavoidably

The audience was necessarily small.

This endeavor necessarily involves some risk.

2

: as a logical result or consequence

… a holocaust is a disaster, but a disaster is not necessarily a holocaust.

—Harry Shaw

Synonyms of necessarily

• inevitably

Examples of necessarily in a Sentence

the argument that the existence of the universe necessarily implies the existence of an all-powerful being responsible for creating it

Recent Examples on the Web

The United States and China would necessarily sit at the center of any meaningful arrangement. — Shlomit Wagman, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026

The latter distinction matters because lower production can reduce emissions associated with raw materials, manufacturing, transportation and consumer use without necessarily reflecting the same degree of operational decarbonization. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026

While the telehealth company may be likely to have liability in the case of injury, Rickenbach doesn’t think the affiliate marketers would necessarily be totally exempt. — Kara McGrath, Allure, 15 Sep. 2026

Willock, meanwhile, has an alternative profile to any of the midfielders Newcastle have and, with no out-and-out No 10 necessarily present, he was deemed an asset, at least in the short-to-medium term. — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing necessarily

• not necessarily

Rhymes for necessarily

• arbitrarily
• customarily
• militarily
• momentarily
• ordinarily
• secondarily
• temporarily
• voluntarily
• airily
• caroli
• merrily
• verily