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indeed

Sayin-DEED/ɪnˈdid/UK/ɪnˈdiːd/

4 meanings of indeed

Practice

  1. 1
    in factadverbmodal
    Truly and in actual fact; used to confirm or reinforce that a statement is the case.

    The plan was risky; indeed, several advisers warned against it.

    She seemed calm, and indeed she remained composed throughout the crisis.

    UsageOften set off by commas, especially at the start of a clause after and or a semicolon: the plan was risky; indeed, advisers warned against it.

    Similarreally, actually, truly, certainly, surely

    Note

    As a sentence adverb it often pushes a point further rather than merely confirming it, as in the American novelist Winston Churchill's The Celebrity (1897): "nor, indeed, did he achieve fame."

  2. 2
    very muchadverb
    Used after an adjective or adjective phrase, often following very, to add emphasis to the description.

    She was very pleased indeed with the final results.

    The journey proved long and tiring indeed.

    UsageComes after the word it stresses, most often with very in front: very pleased indeed, very cold indeed.

  3. 3
    agreedinterjection
    Used as a reply to express strong or emphatic agreement with what was said.

    "That was the finest performance of the season." "Indeed it was."

    "We owe them a great deal." "Indeed we do," the chairman agreed.

    UsageOften followed by a short echo of the statement: Indeed it was, Indeed we do.

    Similarabsolutely, definitely

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    doubtinterjection
    Used as a questioning reply, spoken with a rising tone, to signal serious doubt about what has been said.

    "He claims he ran the entire marathon without stopping." "Indeed?"

    "Indeed?" the detective murmured, unconvinced by the alibi.

    Similarreally

    Note

    Here the tone does all the work. The same word that signals emphatic agreement turns skeptical when the voice rises from low to high. In writing, punctuation has to carry that tone: "Indeed!" agrees and "Indeed?" doubts. A missing question mark can therefore flip the reply from skepticism to assent.

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English indede, a contraction of the phrase in dede ("in fact, in truth"), formed from in + deed. It is related to Dutch inderdaad and German in der Tat, and was first recorded in the early 14th century.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 4 facts