obviously
- 01 B1 Intermediate
in a way that is easy to see or understand.
in a manner that is easily perceived, evident, or manifest to the observer.
Simple“She was obviously upset because her eyes were red from crying.”
In context“The data was obviously flawed, as the results contradicted every established principle of thermodynamics.”
UsageTypically placed before an adjective or at the start of a clause to modify the entire statement.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
used to introduce a fact that you think is already known or expected.
used as a pragmatic marker to introduce information assumed to be common ground between the speaker and listener.
Simple“Obviously, we need to finish the project before the deadline.”
In context“Obviously, the success of the merger depends on how well the two corporate cultures can be integrated over the next fiscal year.”
UsageOften used as a sentence-initial adverb followed by a comma.
Teacher's tipIn professional settings, overusing this sense can sound condescending, as it implies the listener would be foolish not to already know the information.
Antonyms
Usage obviously depend · obviously limit · obviously relate
From obvious + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.