WordGarden.iorelevantly
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /rˈɛlɪvəntli/
US
- /rˈɛlɪvəntli/
Meanings
Adverb
in a way that is directly connected to the matter being considered
Beyond the definition
Imagine you're telling a story. If you include details relevantly, you include the parts that truly connect to the main point, instead of wandering away from it. The word means "in a way that relates directly to what is being discussed." You might hear it in formal situations, such as law, writing, or careful discussion. If someone asks about your weekend, a long speech about 18th-century pottery may be interesting, but it would not answer the question relevantly.
The word "relevantly" means "in a way that is clearly connected to the subject being discussed." It is an adverb, so it describes how something is said, written, chosen, or presented. When someone speaks relevantly, they stay close to the point and give information that actually matters to the situation.
It comes from the adjective "relevant." The adjective describes something that matters to the topic, while the adverb describes doing something in that connected way. For example: "The witness answered the questions relevantly, sticking to the facts of the case." This tells us the answers were not wandering or off-topic; they matched the question being asked.
You are more likely to see "relevantly" in formal or careful English than in casual conversation. Legal writing, academic discussion, and professional communication are places where it fits well, because those settings often care about focus and precision. A report may present facts relevantly by including only the data that supports the point being made.
The idea is common in everyday life even if the exact word is a bit formal. In normal speech, people often choose phrases like "in a relevant way" or simply say something is "related" or "on point." Still, the meaning stays the same: when something is done relevantly, it directly connects to the matter at hand instead of drifting away from it.
Examples
- 1
Direct answer
Please answer the question briefly and relevantly.
- 2
Interview focus
He spent the first part of the interview telling stories, then began speaking more relevantly about his actual experience.
- 3
Local importance
The report covers global trends and, more relevantly for this school, the sharp drop in local student numbers.
See also
Similar
- pertinently
- to the point
Shades of meaning
- applicably
- materially
- appositely
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- speak relevantly
- respond relevantly
- relevantly to
Word family
Explore
- pertinence
- bearing
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- relevantlyadverb