English Reference
Adverb

unanimously

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /juˈnænəməsɫi/ UK /juːnˈænɪməsli/ unan·i·mous·ly

adv.in a way that shows everyone in a group agrees on a decision. You use this when there are no 'no' votes or different opinions.

adv.in a manner that reflects the total agreement of all people involved. Often describes the outcome of a formal vote or a collective decision-making process.


SIMPLE

The committee voted unanimously to approve the new budget.

CONTEXTUAL

The board of directors unanimously elected the new CEO after a very successful interview.

COMPLEX

Despite initial disagreements during the debate, the council members eventually voted unanimously to preserve the historic landmark for future generations.

Usage

Typically follows the verb it modifies, especially in formal reporting of votes or decisions.

Pitfall
The decision was unanimous decided.The decision was unanimously decided.

Learners often use the adjective 'unanimous' when the adverbial form 'unanimously' is required to modify the verb.

In a statement shared today, the schools governing body said its board had “unanimously determined that there is a loss of confidence in Dallas McInerney’s ability to lead the organisation into the future”.

The Guardian· 21 Aug 2026

In a statement shared on Friday, Catholic Schools NSW said its board had “unanimously determined that there is a loss of confidence in Dallas McInerney’s ability to lead the organisation into the future”.

The Guardian· 21 Aug 2026

From unanimous + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated