# not necessarily

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/not-necessarily
Updated: 2026-04-22

## Meaning

you use this to say that something might be true, but it is not always true or certain.

## Examples

- Expensive things are not necessarily better.
- Just because he is quiet, it is not necessarily true that he is shy.
- While the data suggests a positive trend, this does not necessarily mean that the project will succeed without further investment.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.