explicitly
adv.in a way that is very clear and direct, leaving no room for confusion. You use this when someone says exactly what they mean without hiding anything.
adv.in a clear and detailed manner, leaving no room for confusion or doubt. Often used to describe communication that is overt rather than implied.
“The teacher explicitly told us to bring our books.”
“The contract explicitly states that the tenant is responsible for all minor repairs to the property.”
“Although the director never explicitly confirmed the film's meaning, several scenes strongly suggest a critique of modern consumer culture through their visual symbolism.”
Typically placed before the verb it modifies or at the end of the clause for emphasis.
Usage explicitly address · explicitly examine · explicitly include
“In a recorded online briefing, Dudley Council chief executive Balvinder Hera stressed residents should not return home until explicitly told they could do so.”
“The same poll found that 16 percent of Canadians in 2022 explicitly rated the US as “not reliable”.”
Common in culture and history writing
From explicit + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.