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.
Prediction markets also offer bets on election results, and some states are explicitly trying to get those types of wagers banned, too. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Regional authorities avoid initiative unless explicitly ordered. — Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026 The claim that Islam doesn’t really count as a religion surfaced early and explicitly in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. — Asma Uddin, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026 The First Amendment to the US Constitution explicitly protects freedom of the press and freedom of speech. — Jeff Mason, Fortune, 30 Aug. 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Explicitly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/explicitly. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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