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

For The Times) Dollars and sensitivities The financial implications of the strike are difficult to calculate at this juncture, but the district doesn’t necessarily lose money. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026

Cervas noted the Voting Rights Act isn’t necessarily a partisan benefit for Democrats. —Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026

But charging an electric vehicle is not necessarily free either, and there are other costs to consider in the overall equation, such as higher sticker price and faster depreciation. —Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 29 Apr. 2026

Hajinazarian wants to hold the door open for the population interested in firearms who don’t necessarily fit the white, Republican male mold. —Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 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