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

In a hospital, patients are necessarily identified through medical records, diagnoses, and treatment plans. — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2026

Someone who can convey depth and complexity without necessarily saying a word. — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 10 Nov. 2026

The judges sought further justification for the project’s scale, Parker said, rather than necessarily requiring the utility to reduce it. — Lila Hempel-Edgers, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026

This makes sense — after all, bogging down a consumer with tons of technical animation jargon isn’t the point (or necessarily a successful sales tactic). — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 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