namely

adverb

name·​ly ˈnām-lē How to pronounce namely (audio)
Synonyms of namely
: that is to say : to wit

Synonyms of namely

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Examples of namely in a Sentence

there's always one person stuck with cleaning up the mess, namely me
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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.
Today, Richard Engel reports on the modifications some Ukrainians have made to daily life in the midst of a full-scale war with Russia, namely how doctors, patients, teachers and students have moved underground. — Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026 Horsch is being held on charges unrelated to the missing women, namely weapons and false identification offenses. — Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 Gayheart added that returning to work — namely, working on the musical adaptation of Jawbreaker — has proven a helpful creative outlet for her, and the beauty in these new experiences has reminded her to embrace every moment with her girls. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026 The 3rd Circuit concluded that sports event contracts involve events, namely the outcomes of sporting competitions, and therefore qualify as swaps. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for namely

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of namely was in the 14th century

Rhymes for namely

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Browse Nearby Words

nameless
namely
name names
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Cite this Entry

“Namely.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/namely. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

namely

adverb
name·​ly ˈnām-lē How to pronounce namely (audio)
: that is to say
the cat family, namely, lions, tigers, and related animals
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