Word
abstractly
Phoneticsab·stract·ly
UK/ɐbstɹˈæktli/
Definition
adv. in a way that is not connected to a specific person, place, or thing. You use this when talking about ideas or general rules rather than real objects.
adv. in a manner that is not tied to specific instances or concrete realities. Often describes thinking or reasoning that deals with general concepts rather than particular facts.
Examples
“He thinks about the problem abstractly.”
“The artist painted the landscape abstractly, using colors and shapes to represent the feeling of the place rather than its exact appearance.”
“While the theory is sound when viewed abstractly, applying it to real-world markets often reveals unforeseen complexities that the original model failed to account for.”
Examples
simple
“He thinks about the problem abstractly.”
contextual
“The artist painted the landscape abstractly, using colors and shapes to represent the feeling of the place rather than its exact appearance.”
complex
“While the theory is sound when viewed abstractly, applying it to real-world markets often reveals unforeseen complexities that the original model failed to account for.”
Etymology
From Middle English abstractly; equivalent to abstract + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/abstractly