Word
necessarily
Phoneticsnec·es·sar·i·ly, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌnɛsəˈsɛɹəɫi/
UK/nˌɛsɪsˈɛɹəli/
Sentence adverb
Definition
adv. used to say that something is not always true or certain. You use it to show that even if one thing happens, it does not mean another thing must happen.
adv. as a logical consequence or by inevitable necessity. Frequently used in negative constructions to indicate that a specific outcome or conclusion is not guaranteed.
Examples
“A higher price does not necessarily mean better quality.”
“Just because the lights are on in the office, it doesn't necessarily mean that anyone is still working.”
“While the two events occurred simultaneously, it does not necessarily follow that one caused the other, as correlation is distinct from causation.”
Examples
simple
“A higher price does not necessarily mean better quality.”
contextual
“Just because the lights are on in the office, it doesn't necessarily mean that anyone is still working.”
complex
“While the two events occurred simultaneously, it does not necessarily follow that one caused the other, as correlation is distinct from causation.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “necessarily” in context.
Verb
01. necessarily coincide
“The interests of the two companies do not necessarily coincide.”
adv + verb
02. necessarily imply
“A high price does not necessarily imply that the product is of high quality.”
adv + verb
03. necessarily indicate
“A fever does not necessarily indicate a serious infection.”
adv + verb
04. necessarily involve
“Moving to a new city doesn't necessarily involve a lot of stress if you plan ahead.”
adv + verb
05. necessarily limit
“Having a physical disability does not necessarily limit your career options.”
adv + verb
06. necessarily reflect
“The views expressed in the article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor.”
adv + verb
07. necessarily represent
“One person's bad experience doesn't necessarily represent the whole group.”
adv + verb
08. necessarily require
“Learning a new language does not necessarily require living in a foreign country.”
adv + verb
09. necessarily mean
10. necessarily want
Usage
Commonly follows 'not' to qualify a statement; often placed before the main verb or after the verb 'to be'.
Pitfall
It is not necessary true.
It is not necessarily true.
Learners often use the adjective 'necessary' when the adverb 'necessarily' is required to modify another adjective.
Etymology
From necessary + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
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.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL 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: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/necessarily