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
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.
/ˈɹɛl.ə.tɪv.li/
Canada, US:[ˈɹɛl.ə.thɪv.li]enunciated
Canada, US:[ˈɹɛl.ə.ɾɪv.li]flapped
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:R EH1 L AH0 T IH0 V L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a relative manner; with reference to environment or competition; contextually or comparatively.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Somewhat; fairly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable, proscribed, sometimes
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adverb
Meaning 3
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
the situation is relatively calm now
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: comparatively
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English relative 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 relatively From relative + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
41 source translations are retained for this English entry.
