Word
cordially
Phoneticscor·dial·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɔɹdʒəɫi/
UK/kˈɔːdɪəli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a warm and friendly way that shows you like or respect someone. You use it when you greet, invite, or thank people politely.
adv. in a warm, friendly and polite way that expresses sincere goodwill. Common in formal invitations, greetings and polite correspondence.
Examples
“She greets every guest cordially at the door.”
“The manager cordially welcomes new staff on their first day and shows them around the office.”
“Though they had disagreed for years, the two leaders shook hands cordially for the cameras, masking deeper tensions with practised politeness.”
Examples
simple
“She greets every guest cordially at the door.”
contextual
“The manager cordially welcomes new staff on their first day and shows them around the office.”
complex
“Though they had disagreed for years, the two leaders shook hands cordially for the cameras, masking deeper tensions with practised politeness.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cordially” in context.
Verb
01. greet cordially
“The manager stood up and greeted us cordially.”
verb + adv
02. invite cordially
“They invited us cordially to their wedding reception.”
verb + adv
03. receive cordially
“The guests were received cordially by the ambassador.”
verb + adv
04. thank cordially
“She thanked him cordially for his kind help.”
verb + adv
05. welcome cordially
“The school welcomed the new parents cordially.”
verb + adv
06. cordially invite you to
“We cordially invite you to join us for dinner on Saturday.”
07. greeted us cordially
“Our new neighbours greeted us cordially when we moved in.”
08. remain yours cordially
“I remain yours cordially, James Turner.”
09. thank you cordially for
“I thank you cordially for your help with the project.”
10. warmly and cordially welcomed
“The visitors were warmly and cordially welcomed at the ceremony.”
Usage
Manner adverb — typically placed after the verb or at the end of the clause.
Real-World Examples
“We cordially welcome companies from all countries to invest in China and deepen their foothold in China," Li said.” “China is ready to resume oil and gas talks and manage maritime issues "cordially" with the Philippines, China President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday, according to Chinese state television.” Etymology
From cordial + -ly. Compare Middle English cordyally (“by heart”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/cordially