# absolutely

/ˌæbsəˈɫutɫi/ (US) · /ˌæbsəlˈuːtli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/absolutely
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Senses

### 1. completely

adverb · CEFR B1

completely or totally. You use this to emphasize that something is 100% true.

For teachers: wholly or entirely; used as an intensifier to indicate the maximum degree of a quality.

- I was absolutely exhausted after the long flight from London.
- The witness was absolutely certain about the sequence of events, refusing to let the lawyer's questioning shake her confidence.

### 2. extremely

adverb · CEFR B1 · Informal

very much. You use this to make a feeling or quality stronger.

For teachers: used as an intensive to emphasize a statement or feeling.

- It is absolutely freezing outside today, so wear a heavy coat.
- The performance was absolutely brilliant, capturing the audience's attention from the very first note until the final curtain call.

### 3. strong agreement

interjection · CEFR B1

a way to say 'yes' very strongly when you agree with someone.

For teachers: an emphatic affirmative used to express total agreement with a previous statement or question.

- "Do you think we should leave now?" "Absolutely."
- "Do you agree that the current strategy is unsustainable?" "Absolutely; we need to pivot immediately to remain competitive."

## Examples

- The food was absolutely delicious.
- I absolutely agree with your proposal to change the meeting time to Friday morning.
- The witness was absolutely certain that the suspect had left the building before the alarm sounded, leaving no room for doubt in the jury's mind.

## Pitfalls

- Not "It is absolutely hot today" but "It is very hot today" — Absolutely is usually paired with 'extreme' or non-gradable adjectives like 'boiling'; for standard gradable adjectives like 'hot', use 'very'.

## Usage notes

- Typically modifies non-gradable adjectives (e.g., 'perfect', 'impossible') rather than gradable ones (e.g., 'big', 'tired').

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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.