Standard Lemma guide

fundamentally

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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: F AH2 N D AH0 M EH1 N T AH0 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: F AH2 N D AH0 M EH1 N AH0 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a fundamental or basic sense; reaching the very core of the matter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in essence; at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • He is basically dishonest
  • the argument was essentially a technical one
  • for all his bluster he is in essence a shy person

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: basically, essentially

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English fundamental Middle English -ly English -ly English fundamentally From fundamental + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 根本地 — to the very core of the matter
  • Chinese Mandarin: 从根本上 — to the very core of the matter
  • Finnish: pohjimmiltaan — to the very core of the matter
  • Finnish: olennaisesti — to the very core of the matter
  • Finnish: fundamentaalisesti — to the very core of the matter
  • French: fondamentalement — to the very core of the matter
  • French: foncièrement — to the very core of the matter
  • Greek: στοιχειωδώς (stoicheiodós) — to the very core of the matter
  • Hebrew: עֶקְרוֹנִית (eqronit) — to the very core of the matter
  • Italian: fondamentalmente — to the very core of the matter
  • Italian: essenzialmente — to the very core of the matter
  • Spanish: fundamentalmente — to the very core of the matter
Real reading context

fundamentally in complete knowledge articles