adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/ˈdɪfɹəntli/
/ˈdɪfəɹəntli/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:D IH1 F R AH0 N T L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
CMU ARPABET 2:D IH1 F ER0 EH1 N T L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a different way.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Things turned out differently from what I'd envisaged.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adverb
Meaning 2
in another and different manner;
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
very soon you will know differently
she thought otherwise
there is no way out other than the fire escape
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: otherwise, other than
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dwóh1 Proto-Indo-European *d(w)is- Proto-Italic *dis- Latin dis- Proto-Indo-European *bher- Proto-Indo-European *bhéreti Proto-Italic *ferō Latin ferō Latin differō Latin differēnsder. Old French differentbor. Middle English different Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly Middle English differently English differently From Middle English differently; equivalent to different + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
36 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
различно
(različno)
— in a different way
Bulgarian:
другояче
(drugojače)
— in a different way
Catalan:
diferentment
— in a different way
Czech:
odlišně
— in a different way
Danish:
forskelligt
— in a different way
Danish:
specielt
— in a different way
Danish:
anderledes
— in a different way
Dutch:
verschillend
— in a different way
Dutch:
anders
— in a different way
Esperanto:
diference
— in a different way
Esperanto:
malsame
— in a different way
Finnish:
erilaisesti
— in a different way
Finnish:
eri lailla
— in a different way
French:
différemment
— in a different way
German:
anders
— in a different way
Gothic:
𐌰𐌽𐌸𐌰𐍂𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍉
(anþarleikō)
— in a different way
Greek:
αλλιώς
(alliós)
— in a different way
Ancient Greek:
ἑτέρως
(hetérōs)
— in a different way
Ancient Greek:
ἀλλοίως
(alloíōs)
— in a different way
Hungarian:
máshogyan
— in a different way
Italian:
differentemente
— in a different way
Italian:
diversamente
— in a different way
Latin:
aliter
— in a different way
Middle English:
differently
— in a different way
Norman:
difféthemment
— in a different way
Norwegian Bokmål:
forskjellig
— in a different way
Norwegian Nynorsk:
forskjellig
— in a different way
Plautdietsch:
aundasch
— in a different way
Polish:
inaczej
— in a different way
Portuguese:
diferentemente
— in a different way
Russian:
по-друго́му
(po-drugómu)
— in a different way