outwardly

adverb

out·​ward·​ly ˈau̇t-wərd-lē How to pronounce outwardly (audio)
Synonyms of outwardlynext
1
a
: on the outside : externally
b
: toward the outside
2
: in outward state, behavior, or appearance
was outwardly friendly

Examples of outwardly in a Sentence

The two brothers may be outwardly similar, but their personalities couldn't be more different. Though extremely nervous, she was able to remain outwardly calm during the interview. Outwardly, their marriage seemed quite normal.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Nobody associated with mid-major conferences outwardly roots for their representatives to be placed in First Four play-in games. Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026 Film critic Courtney Howard shared one of the few outwardly negative reactions to the movie in the initial round of social media reactions. Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026 Many of them are still outwardly gorgeous, soaring as tall as 100 feet with a canopies of 70 feet or more. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026 In the year since, both women have appeared to send subliminal messages about each other via their social media, but neither has outwardly dissed the other until this week, keeping it mostly professional. Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for outwardly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of outwardly was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Outwardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outwardly. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

outwardly

adverb
out·​ward·​ly ˈau̇t-wərd-lē How to pronounce outwardly (audio)
: on the outside : in outward appearance
outwardly calm

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