absolutely

1. 1
   completelyadverb

   Completely and without any limit or reservation; also used to add emphasis, meaning extremely.

   The agreement gives the trustee absolutely unconditional control over the funds.

   He trusted his partner absolutely, without a single reservation.

   UsageMost natural with words that are already total or extreme: absolutely sure, absolutely freezing, absolutely nothing. With ordinary adjectives, very is usual.

   Note

   The core sense comes from late Middle English absolutly (absolute plus -ly), already used by Chaucer in his Boece. It covers two uses that shade into each other: saying how fully something holds (trusted him absolutely) and simply adding force before another word.

2. 2
   yesinterjection

   Yes, certainly; used to express strong, emphatic agreement.

   Do you support the new schedule? Absolutely. Count me in.

   When the reporter asked if she would run again, she answered, "Absolutely."

   UsageA full reply on its own, stronger than a plain yes: Can you help? Absolutely! Absolutely not is a firm no.

   Similarsure, yes, indeed

   Oppositeno

3. 3
   in itselfadverb

   Considered in itself, without reference to other things or factors.

   Economists warn that wealth measured absolutely tells you little about how people actually live.

   Considered absolutely, the figure is alarming, though it shrinks beside the totals from earlier decades.

   UsageUsually after what it describes: considered absolutely, measured absolutely. Often set against relatively.

   Similarindependently, separately

   Oppositerelatively, comparatively

   Note

   A philosopher's and mathematician's use, where the word means "in itself" rather than "completely." An introductory study printed with an English translation of Nicomachus of Gerasa sets numbers considered "themselves absolutely" against their mutual relations. Read it as "taken alone," not as the "utterly" meaning.

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