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REFERENCE

apparently

adv.
US //əˈpɛɹəntɫi// UK //ɐpˈæɹəntli// ap·par·ent·ly
  1. 1 based on what I heard (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    used to say that you have heard something is true, but you are not completely certain.

    used to indicate that information has been acquired through hearsay or reports rather than direct experience.

    Example

    Apparently, the new restaurant in town is very expensive, but I haven't been there yet.

    Example

    Apparently, the board of directors has already reached a decision, though an official announcement is not expected until later this week.

    Usage

    Often placed at the beginning of a sentence to qualify the entire statement.
  2. 2 based on how it looks (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    used to describe something that seems to be true because of how it appears.

    used to describe a situation as it appears on the surface, which may or may not reflect the underlying reality.

    Example

    He was apparently calm during the interview, but his hands were shaking under the table.

    Example

    The two companies are apparently competitors, yet they share several key patents and frequently collaborate on research projects.
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  1. 3 obvious or clear (adv.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Literary

    in a way that is easy to see or understand.

    in a clear, manifest, or obvious manner. This sense is less common in modern speech than the hearsay sense.

    Example

    The truth of his statement was apparently clear to everyone in the room.

    Example

    The structural flaws in the bridge were apparently visible even to the untrained eye, yet the warnings went unheeded for years.

    Teacher's tip

    In modern English, this 'obvious' sense is rare; learners should primarily use 'apparently' to mean 'I heard that...'.
    • obscurely
Origin

From apparent + -ly.

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