Word
innocently
Phoneticsin·no·cent·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪnəsəntɫi/
UK/ˈɪnəsəntli/
Definition
adv. in a way that shows you are not trying to be harmful or dishonest. You use this when someone does something by accident or without bad intentions.
adv. in a manner that suggests a lack of malice, guilt, or ill intent. Often used to describe actions performed without awareness of their consequences or with a naive lack of sophistication.
Examples
“He looked at her innocently as he explained the mistake.”
“The child innocently asked why the sky was blue, showing no understanding of the complex physics involved.”
“The defendant appeared to be speaking innocently about the events of that evening, though the prosecution argued his words were a calculated attempt to mislead the jury.”
Examples
simple
“He looked at her innocently as he explained the mistake.”
contextual
“The child innocently asked why the sky was blue, showing no understanding of the complex physics involved.”
complex
“The defendant appeared to be speaking innocently about the events of that evening, though the prosecution argued his words were a calculated attempt to mislead the jury.”
Real-World Examples
“Meanwhile, the board game designer who had innocently started the whole thing watched his dinner question turn into an international research project.” “Describing Sunday’s crash, Kelly said: “These family members were travelling innocently when they were struck by a vehicle being driven the wrong way down the motorway.” Etymology
From innocent + -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.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/innocently