Standard Lemma guide

plausibly

adv · 3 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: P L AO1 Z AH0 B L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a plausible manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: manner

Examples

  • She lied plausibly, but the police suspected her anyway.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: believably, credibly

Antonyms: implausibly, unbelievably, incredibly

2

adv

Meaning 2

Probably; not falsifiably, based on available facts and general knowledge.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: modal

Examples

  • Plausibly, she said she'd been working at the time.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

easy to believe on the basis of available evidence

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he talked plausibly before the committee
  • he will probably win the election

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: credibly, believably, probably

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English plausible 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 plausibly From plausible + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: plausiblement — in a plausible manner
  • Ancient Greek: εὐπρεπῶς (euprepôs) — in a plausible manner
  • Italian: plausibilmente — in a plausible manner