# mutually

/ˈmjutʃuəɫi/ (US) · /mjˈuːtʃuːəli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/mutually
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. reciprocally

adverb · CEFR B2

in a way that involves two people or groups doing the same thing for each other.

For teachers: in a reciprocal manner; used when two or more parties perform the same action toward one another.

- The two companies decided to work together because they could mutually benefit from the deal.
- The treaty was designed so that both nations would mutually support each other in the event of a regional conflict.

Usage: Often used with verbs like 'benefit', 'support', or 'respect'.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'together'. While 'together' means doing something as a group, 'mutually' emphasizes that the action goes back and forth between the members.

### 2. shared or agreed upon

adverb · CEFR B2

shared by two or more people, or agreed on by everyone involved.

For teachers: held in common or experienced by two or more parties; frequently modifies adjectives like 'exclusive', 'beneficial', or 'agreeable'.

- They reached a mutually convenient time for the meeting after checking their calendars.
- The two theories are mutually exclusive, meaning that if the first one is true, the second one must be false.

Usage: Commonly appears in the fixed phrase 'mutually exclusive'.

Teaching tip: In business and law, 'mutually' is used to show that an agreement is not forced by one side but accepted by both.

## Examples

- The two companies reached a mutually beneficial agreement.
- After hours of negotiation, they found a solution that was mutually acceptable to both the management and the staff.
- The success of the partnership depends on a mutually supportive environment where both researchers and investors feel their specific goals are being met with equal priority.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.