Word
collectively
Phoneticscol·lec·tive·ly, stress on the second syllable
US/kəˈɫɛktɪvɫi/
UK/kəlˈɛktɪvli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. done by a group of people together rather than by one person alone. You use this when everyone in a group shares the same action or responsibility.
adv. in a manner involving all members of a group as a whole. Often used to describe shared responsibility, joint action, or the total sum of a group's efforts.
Examples
“The team collectively decided to change the project plan.”
“The neighbors collectively agreed to pay for the repairs to the shared fence.”
“While individual contributions varied, the department was collectively responsible for the success of the annual gala, which raised record funds for the charity.”
Examples
simple
“The team collectively decided to change the project plan.”
contextual
“The neighbors collectively agreed to pay for the repairs to the shared fence.”
complex
“While individual contributions varied, the department was collectively responsible for the success of the annual gala, which raised record funds for the charity.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “collectively” in context.
Verb
01. collectively know
“These three separate species are what we collectively know as the Great Apes.”
adv + verb
02. collectively known
Usage
Typically placed before the verb it modifies or at the end of a clause to emphasize group unity.
Real-World Examples
“He sees the current moment as one in which “we’re trying to discover where we want to go collectively as a species”.” “The Italian military police said that art collectively valued at more than $10 million had been found five months after being taken in a nighttime heist near Parma.” “People must collectively decide whether the harm caused by an action justifies limiting individual freedom – for example, making it illegal to drive a car while impaired by alcohol .” “Since first emerging online in 2019 on the online bulletin board 4chan , the Backrooms phenomenon has expanded across Reddit, TikTok, YouTube and gaming platforms, where users collectively map, narrate and extend its mythology.” Etymology
From collective + -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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/collectively