English Reference

Word

convincingly

Phoneticscon·vinc·ing·ly

US/kənˈvɪnsɪŋɫi/

UK/kənvˈɪnsɪŋli/

Definition

adv. in a way that makes people believe that something is true or real. You use it when someone is very good at making an argument or playing a part.

adv. in a manner that successfully persuades others of the truth or validity of a claim. Often describes the effectiveness of an argument or a performance.

Examples

“She argued her point so convincingly that everyone agreed.”

“The actor played the role of the king so convincingly that the audience forgot he was only twenty years old.”

“The defense attorney presented the evidence so convincingly that the jury reached a verdict of not guilty within less than an hour of deliberation.”

Examples

simple

“She argued her point so convincingly that everyone agreed.”

contextual

“The actor played the role of the king so convincingly that the audience forgot he was only twenty years old.”

complex

“The defense attorney presented the evidence so convincingly that the jury reached a verdict of not guilty within less than an hour of deliberation.”

Usage

Manner adverb — typically follows the verb it modifies or the direct object.

Real-World Examples

“Somehow she manages to maintain this attitude, even though the news she delivers is always so convincingly, unbelievably bad.”
The Guardian · 12 Sept 2026
“But with Alcaraz looking increasingly rusty in the quarter-final, Cobolli and Bencic won convincingly.”
BBC News · 25 Aug 2026

Etymology

From convincing + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/convincingly

English Reference