explicitly

adverb

ex·​plic·​it·​ly ik-ˈspli-sət-lē How to pronounce explicitly (audio)
: in an explicit manner : clearly and without any vagueness or ambiguity
We were explicitly warned about what could happen.
The map shows explicitly where the fire alarms are located.
… did not know about the ferrying of weapons to the rebels, an activity explicitly forbidden by Congress.—Neil A. Lewis

Examples of explicitly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For Szabo’s freaky, compact masterpiece is not explicitly about witches. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 2 July 2026 Even candidates who explicitly made impeachment the centerpiece of their campaigns have struggled to gain traction this cycle. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026 Spinning up a new revenue line — one tied explicitly to the billions its spending on AI — seemed to do the trick; Meta’s shares rose 9% on Bloomberg’s report. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 2 July 2026 There are some sources that have a pretty explicitly Christian-nationalist telling of history, like the [PragerU] materials. — Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for explicitly

Word History

Etymology

explicit + -ly entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1657, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of explicitly was circa 1657

Rhymes for explicitly

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Browse Nearby Words

explicit function
explicitly
explicitness
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Cite this Entry

“Explicitly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explicitly. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on explicitly

Nglish: Translation of explicitly for Spanish Speakers

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