Word
apparently
Phoneticsap·par·ent·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈpɛɹəntɫi/
UK/ɐpˈæɹəntli/
Sentence adverb
Definitions
01based on what I heard
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used to say that you have heard something is true, but you are not completely certain.
adv. used to indicate that information has been acquired through hearsay or reports rather than direct experience.
“Apparently, the new restaurant in town is very expensive, but I haven't been there yet.”
“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.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02based on how it looks
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used to describe something that seems to be true because of how it appears.
adv. used to describe a situation as it appears on the surface, which may or may not reflect the underlying reality.
“He was apparently calm during the interview, but his hands were shaking under the table.”
“The two companies are apparently competitors, yet they share several key patents and frequently collaborate on research projects.”
Synonyms
03obvious or clear
C1 · Advanced Formal · Literary
adv. in a way that is easy to see or understand.
adv. in a clear, manifest, or obvious manner. This sense is less common in modern speech than the hearsay sense.
Español:por lo visto
“The truth of his statement was apparently clear to everyone in the room.”
“The structural flaws in the bridge were apparently visible even to the untrained eye, yet the warnings went unheeded for years.”
Teaching tip
In modern English, this 'obvious' sense is rare; learners should primarily use 'apparently' to mean 'I heard that...'.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “apparently” in context.
Adjective
01. apparently contradictory
“The witness gave two apparently contradictory statements to the police.”
adv + adj
02. apparently unrelated
“The police are investigating whether these two apparently unrelated crimes are linked.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“Now that I write this story down, I see that it is not that sad, because that is one seriously nice guy (and the city is also nice, apparently).” “Apparently, the two composers got legless and by the time Bruckner arrived back home, he could no longer remember which symphony the master preferred.” Etymology
From apparent + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
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
- Very common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/apparently
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0