Standard Lemma guide

negatively

adv · 4 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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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: N EH1 G AH0 T IH0 V L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a negative manner; so as to be damaging or not positive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1722, Daniel Defoe, Moll Flanders, London: J. Cooke, 1765, p. 17, At last one of them asked me what a Gentlewoman was? that puzzled me much; but however, I explained myself negatively; that it was one that did not go to Service to do Housework [...]

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

In the negative; with the answer “no.”

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: usually

Qualifier: responding to a question; proposal; vote; responding to a question; proposal; vote

Examples

  • 1683, Richard Browne (translator), The Cure of Old Age and Preservation of Youth by Roger Bacon, London: Tho. Flesher, Doubt VII, p. 83, I answer negatively:
  • 1983, Reuters, “Iran rebuffs Iraq on sparing civilians,” New York Times, 27 May, 1983, Iran responded negatively today to a proposal by Iraq that the two countries agree to stop shelling each other’s towns and villages.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in a negative way

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he was negatively inclined

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adverb

Meaning 4

in a harmful manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he was negatively affected

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English negative 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 English -ly English negatively From negative + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: negativament — in a negative manner
  • Czech: záporně — in a negative manner
  • Estonian: negatiivselt — in a negative manner
  • Faroese: neiliga — in a negative manner
  • Finnish: kielteisesti — in a negative manner
  • Finnish: negatiivisesti — in a negative manner
  • Galician: negativamente — in a negative manner
  • German: negativ — in a negative manner
  • Italian: negativamente — in a negative manner
  • Latin: aliter — in a negative manner
  • Polish: negatywnie — in a negative manner
  • Portuguese: negativamente — in a negative manner
  • Spanish: negativamente — in a negative manner
  • Ukrainian: негати́вно (nehatývno) — in a negative manner