Word
tacitly
Phoneticstac·it·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtæsɪtɫi/
UK/tˈæsɪtli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that is understood or agreed upon without being spoken out loud. You use this when people show their support or agreement through their actions rather than their words.
adv. in a manner that is understood or implied without being directly stated. Often describes agreement or consent conveyed through silence or inaction.
Examples
“By not protesting, the committee tacitly approved the new rule.”
“Although no formal contract was signed, both companies tacitly agreed to respect each other's primary markets.”
“The regime's expansion was tacitly supported by neighboring powers, who feared that open opposition might trigger a broader regional conflict they were unprepared to manage.”
Examples
simple
“By not protesting, the committee tacitly approved the new rule.”
contextual
“Although no formal contract was signed, both companies tacitly agreed to respect each other's primary markets.”
complex
“The regime's expansion was tacitly supported by neighboring powers, who feared that open opposition might trigger a broader regional conflict they were unprepared to manage.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tacitly” in context.
Verb
01. tacitly accept
“By not protesting the new rules, the staff tacitly accepted them.”
adv + verb
02. tacitly acknowledge
“The government tacitly acknowledged that the policy had failed.”
adv + verb
03. tacitly admit
“His silence was seen as a way to tacitly admit his involvement.”
adv + verb
04. tacitly agree
“They tacitly agreed not to mention the incident to their manager.”
adv + verb
05. tacitly approve
“The board tacitly approved the merger by failing to raise any objections.”
adv + verb
06. tacitly support
“The regime was tacitly supported by several neighboring countries.”
adv + verb
07. be tacitly understood that
“It was tacitly understood that no one would leave before the CEO.”
08. give tacit approval
“The director gave his tacit approval to the project by providing the necessary funds.”
09. tacitly consent to
“The residents tacitly consented to the changes by not filing a complaint.”
Usage
Typically modifies verbs related to agreement, consent, or understanding.
Real-World Examples
“If a leader suggests a shift in project direction and the room remains silent, the team has tacitly approved the change through their collective lack of dissent.” Etymology
From tacit + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/tacitly