Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [o-sten-suh-buh l]
- /ɒˈstɛn sə bəl/
- /ɒsˈten.sɪ.bl̩/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [o-sten-suh-buh l]
- /ɒˈstɛn sə bəl/
Definitions of ostensibly word
- adjective ostensibly outwardly appearing as such; professed; pretended: an ostensible cheerfulness concealing sadness. 1
- adjective ostensibly apparent, evident, or conspicuous: the ostensible truth of their theories. 1
- noun ostensibly Apparently or purportedly, but perhaps not actually. 1
- adverb ostensibly by all appearances 1
- adverb ostensibly apparently; seemingly 0
Information block about the term
Origin of ostensibly
First appearance:
before 1720 One of the 49% newest English words
1720-30; < French < Latin ostēns(us), variant of ostentus (see ostensive) + French -ible -ible
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Ostensibly
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
ostensibly popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 75% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
ostensibly usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for ostensibly
adverb ostensibly
- apparently — You use apparently to indicate that the information you are giving is something that you have heard, but you are not certain that it is true.
- supposedly — assumed as true, regardless of fact; hypothetical: a supposed case.
- seemingly — apparent; appearing, whether truly or falsely, to be as specified: a seeming advantage.
- allegedly — reportedly; supposedly
- superficially — being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.
Antonyms for ostensibly
adverb ostensibly
- truly — in accordance with fact or truth; truthfully.
- improbably — not probable; unlikely to be true or to happen: Rain is improbable tonight.
- obscurely — (of meaning) not clear or plain; ambiguous, vague, or uncertain: an obscure sentence in the contract.
- unlikely — not likely to be or occur; improbable; marked by doubt.
Top questions with ostensibly
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See also
Matching words
- Words starting with o
- Words starting with os
- Words starting with ost
- Words starting with oste
- Words starting with osten
- Words starting with ostens
- Words starting with ostensi
- Words starting with ostensib
- Words starting with ostensibl
- Words starting with ostensibly