definitely


Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

def·i·nite

 (dĕf′ə-nĭt)
adj.
1.
a. Clearly defined; explicitly precise: a definite statement of the terms of the will. See Synonyms at explicit.
b. Forthright and unambiguous: The doctor was very definite about what foods you should avoid.
2. Clearly developed or firmly decided: no definite idea of what to do for a career.
3. Readily distinguished or certain: at a definite disadvantage.
4. Grammar Limiting or particularizing.
5. Botany
a. Of a fixed number usually less than 20, as certain floral organs, especially stamens.
b. Cymose; determinate.

[Middle English diffinite, defined, from Latin dēfīnītus, past participle of dēfīnīre, to define; see define.]

def′i·nite·ly adv.
def′i·nite·ness n.
Usage Note: Definite and definitive both apply to what is precisely defined or explicitly set forth. But definitive most often refers specifically to a judgment or description that serves as a standard or reference point for others, as in the definitive decision of the court (which sets forth a final resolution of a judicial matter) or the definitive biography of Nelson (that is, the biography that sets the standard against which all other accounts of Nelson's life must be measured).
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

definitely

(ˈdɛfɪnɪtlɪ)
adv
1. in a definite manner
2. (sentence modifier) certainly: he said he was coming, definitely.
sentence substitute
unquestionably: used to confirm an assumption by a questioner
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

def•i•nite•ly

(ˈdɛf ə nɪt li)

adv.
1. in a definite manner; unambiguously.
2. unequivocally; positively.
interj.
3. (used to express complete agreement or strong affirmation.)
[1575–85]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

surely

definitelycertainlynaturally
1. 'surely'

You use surely for emphasis when you are objecting to something that has been said or done.

'I can have it ready for next week.' – 'Surely you can get it done sooner than that?'
Their lawyers claim that they have not broken any rules, but surely this is not good practice.
2. 'definitely' and 'certainly'

Don't use 'surely' simply to give strong emphasis to a statement. Use definitely.

They were definitely not happy.
The call definitely came from your phone.

In British English, you don't use 'surely' when you are agreeing with something that has been said, or confirming that something is true. Use certainly.

Ellie was certainly a student at the university but I'm not sure about her brother.
'You like him, don't you?' – 'I certainly do.'

American speakers use both surely and certainly to agree with requests and statements.

'It is still a difficult world for women.' – 'Oh, certainly.'
Surely, yes, I agree with that.

Don't use 'surely' to say emphatically that something will happen in the future. Use definitely or certainly.

The conference will definitely be postponed.
If nothing is done, there will certainly be problems.
3. 'naturally'

Don't use 'surely' to emphasize that something is what you would expect in particular circumstances. Use naturally.

His sister was crying, so naturally Sam was upset.
Naturally, some of the information will be irrelevant.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Adv.1.definitely - without question and beyond doubt; "it was decidedly too expensive"; "she told him off in spades"; "by all odds they should win"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

definitely

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
بالتَّأْكِيدبالتَّأكيد، حَتْما، بِوُضوح
rozhodněsamozřejměurčitě
bestemthelt sikkert
zweifellosauf jeden Falldefinitiv
ehdottomastivarmasti
definitivno
biztosanfeltétlenülhatározottan
áreiîanlega
明確に
명확히
sevedavsekakorzagotovo
definitivt
อย่างแน่นอน
kesin olarakkesinlikle
dứt khoát

definitely

[ˈdefɪnɪtlɪ] ADV
1. (= definitively) [agree, arrange, decide] → definitivamente
I haven't definitely decided on law schooltodavía no he decidido hacer derecho definitivamente
the date has not yet been definitely decidedaún no se ha decidido una fecha definitiva
they have not said definitely whether they will attendno han dicho de forma definitiva que vayan a asistir
2. (= certainly) something should definitely be done about thatdecididamente, deberían hacer algo al respecto
yes, we definitely do need a carsí, está clarísimo que necesitamos un coche, sí, decididamente necesitamos un coche
he is definitely leavinges seguro que se va, definitivamente se va
they are definitely not for saledefinitivamente no están a la venta
I'll definitely goseguro que iré
she definitely said two o'clockestoy seguro de que dijo a las dos en punto
she said definitely two o'clockdijo que seguro que a los dos en punto
I will definitely get it finished by tomorrowdefinitivamente lo termino para mañana, seguro que lo termino para mañana
it's definitely betteres sin duda mejor
"are you going to Greece this summer?" - "yes, definitely"-¿te vas a Grecia este verano? -sí, seguro
"do you think she'll pass?" - "definitely"-¿crees que aprobará? -seguro or sin duda
"will you accept his offer?" - "definitely not!"-¿vas a aceptar su oferta? -¡de ninguna manera!
"can I go on my own?" - "definitely not!"-¿puedo ir solo? -¡ni hablar!
3. (= emphatically) [say, deny] → terminantemente, categóricamente; [state] → firmemente
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

definitely

[ˈdɛfɪnɪtli] adv (= certainly) → sans aucun doute, incontestablement
He's definitely the best player → C'est sans aucun doute lui le meilleur joueur.
definitely! (= yes, absolutely) → absolument !
"He's the best player." - "Definitely!" → "C'est le meilleur joueur." - "Absolument!"
I definitely think he'll come → Je suis sûr qu'il va venir.
to definitely decide on sb (= make final decision) → choisir qn en définitive
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

definitely

adv
(= finally) decide, sayendgültig; it’s not definitely arranged/agreed yetes steht noch nicht fest
(= clearly)eindeutig; (= certainly)bestimmt; (= whatever happens)auf jeden Fall; definitely notauf keinen Fall; she has definitely put on weightsie hat eindeutig zugenommen; he definitely wanted to comeer wollte bestimmt kommen; that is definitely wrongdas ist bestimmt nicht richtig; that’s definitely an improvement/an advantagedas ist ganz sicherlich eine Verbesserung/ein Vorteil
(= emphatically) saynachdrücklich, bestimmt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

definitely

[ˈdɛfɪnɪtlɪ] adv (certainly) → di sicuro, certamente; (emphatically, state) → categoricamente; (appreciably, better, worse) → decisamente
definitely! → assolutamente!
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

definite

(ˈdefinit) adjective
clear; fixed or certain. I'll give you a definite answer later.
ˈdefinitely adverb
clearly or certainly. She definitely said I wasn't to wait; Her dress is definitely not red.
definite article the name given to the word the
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

definitely

بالتَّأْكِيد rozhodně bestemt zweifellos οριστικά indudablemente ehdottomasti assurément definitivno definitivamente 明確に 명확히 absoluut absolutt zdecydowanie definitivamente определенно definitivt อย่างแน่นอน kesinlikle dứt khoát 肯定地
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
References in classic literature ?
From this it is plain that, if a man definitely apprehends a relative thing, he will also definitely apprehend that to which it is relative.
An old sly Fox, seeing this, said, "May I never make myself so ridiculous as you do in your pride and self-conceit; for even though you have the size of a lion among wolves, in a herd of lions you are definitely a wolf."
It cannot be definitely assigned either to the Ionian or Continental schools, for while the romantic element is very strong, there is a distinct genealogical interest; and in matters of diction and style the influences of both Hesiod and Homer are well-marked.
It would be interesting to state definitely, with illustrations, those characteristics of Bacon's mind which make it impossible that he should have written Shakspere's plays.
It had been the spring, it will be remembered, that had prompted them to go on pilgrimage; and me, too, the spring was filling with strange, undefinable longings, and though I flattered myself that I had set out in pursuance of a definitely taken resolve, I had really no more freedom in the matter than the children who followed at the heels of the mad piper.
I can only put you confidentially in possession of my private opinion, leaving you entirely free to draw your own inferences from it, and regretting that I cannot write more confidently and more definitely than I have written here.
A wet day was the expression of irremediable grief at her weakness in the mind of some vague ethical being whom she could not class definitely as the God of her childhood, and could not comprehend as any other.
she refused him quite definitely!" adding, after a pause, "she told him she loved another."
Differences of degree there were, of course; but no one more delicately and definitely knew those differences than did Jerry himself.
They also undertook to examine the true nature of that system of parallel ramparts discovered on the moon's surface by Gruithuysen, a learned professor of Munich, who considered them to be "a system of fortifications thrown up by the Selenitic engineers." These two points, yet obscure, as well as others, no doubt, could not be definitely settled except by direct communication with the moon.
It's a confession that weighs on me; I want to make it to you," said Anna, letting herself drop definitely into an armchair, and looking straight into Dolly's face.
As the butler spoke, Eustace picked up a plate and threw it at the scullery-maid, whom he seemed definitely to have picked out as the most hostile of the allies.