Word
publicly
Phoneticspub·licly
US/ˈpəbɫɪkɫi/
UK/pˈʌblɪkli/
Adverb of manner
Definitions
01openly
B1 · Intermediate
adv. in a way that is not secret, so that anyone can see or hear what is happening.
adv. in an open manner that is visible or audible to the general public rather than in private.
“The company director publicly apologized for the mistake during the news conference.”
“Although the two politicians disagreed in private, they continued to support the project publicly to maintain party unity.”
Usage
often follows verbs of communication like 'speak', 'announce', or 'admit'.
02by the government
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
adv. done or paid for by the government or a community for everyone to use.
adv. by, for, or on behalf of the community, often relating to government funding or oversight.
“The new park is publicly funded, so it is free for everyone to visit.”
“The report argued that publicly owned utilities often provide more reliable service than those managed by private corporations.”
Usage
frequently modifies adjectives like 'funded', 'owned', or 'held'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “publicly” in context.
Etymology
From public + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
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 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/publicly