respectively

adverb

re·​spec·​tive·​ly ri-ˈspek-tiv-lē How to pronounce respectively (audio)
Synonyms of respectively
1
: in the order given
My cousin and I were respectively 12 and 16 years old.
2
: in particular : separately
could not recognize the solutions as salty or sour, respectively

Examples of respectively 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.
Tysie Gallagher, Terri Harper and Caroline Dubois beat Americans Brandi Robinson, Miranda Reyes and Amelia Moore, respectively, earlier in the night, while Reina Tellez defeated Jessica Barry for the United States’ only victory. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Nvidia has climbed more than 8%, while Microsoft and Micron Technology advanced 11% and 13%, respectively. — Lee Ying Shan,fred Imbert, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026 Lynn replaced Alex Grinch, who was fired before finishing his second season leading a defense that was porous and poor, ranking as the 94th and 121st most generous defense in the nation in 2022 and ’23, respectively. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026 Galaxy Club has already reported that the S27 Pro and S27 Ultra will use the same technology, with capacities of around 5,200mAh and 5,700mAh respectively. — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for respectively

Word History

First Known Use

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of respectively was in 1602

Rhymes for respectively

See All Rhymes for respectively

Browse Nearby Words

respective
respectively
respectiveness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Respectively.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/respectively. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

respectively

adverb
re·​spec·​tive·​ly
ri-ˈspek-tiv-lē
: each in the order given
John and Mary were 12 and 13 years old respectively

More from Merriam-Webster on respectively

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for respectively

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