Word
casually
Phoneticsca·su·al·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkæʒəwəɫi/
UK/kˈæʒuːəli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a relaxed way without much effort or planning. You use this when you are doing something for fun or wearing comfortable clothes rather than being serious or formal.
adv. in a relaxed, informal, or non-serious manner; without premeditation or significant commitment.
Examples
“They dressed casually for the weekend party.”
“She mentioned the news casually during lunch, as if it weren't a big deal at all.”
“The witness claimed to have seen the suspect walking casually toward the station, showing no signs of the urgency one might expect from someone fleeing a crime scene.”
Examples
simple
“They dressed casually for the weekend party.”
contextual
“She mentioned the news casually during lunch, as if it weren't a big deal at all.”
complex
“The witness claimed to have seen the suspect walking casually toward the station, showing no signs of the urgency one might expect from someone fleeing a crime scene.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.
Pitfall
He was casual dressed.
He was casually dressed.
Learners often use the adjective form 'casual' instead of the adverb 'casually' to modify a participle or verb.
Etymology
From Middle English casually, casuelly, casuali, casuely, equivalent to casual + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/casually