adv · 5 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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CMU ARPABET:AH2 N B AH0 L IY1 V AH0 B L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
In a manner that one does not or cannot believe.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: manner
Examples
He gestured unbelievably. Everyone knew he was faking his illness.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
To an extent not to be believed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: degree
Examples
His face turned unbelievably blue. We realized he was actually choking.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
Contrary to expectations, amazingly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: evaluative
Examples
Unbelievably, Rudy saved the man's life but got sued for breaking two of his ribs.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adverb
Meaning 4
in an unbelievable manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he was unbelievably angry
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: believably
5
adverb
Meaning 5
not easy to believe
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
behind you the coastal hills plunge to the incredibly blue sea backed by the Turkish mountains
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: incredibly, improbably, implausibly
Antonyms: believably
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English unbelievable 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 unbelievably From unbelievable + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
48 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Armenian:
անարժանահավատ
(anaržanahavat)
— in a manner one does not believe
Catalan:
increïblement
— in a manner one does not believe
Chinese Mandarin:
不可信地
— in a manner one does not believe
Dutch:
ongelooflijk
— in a manner one does not believe
Finnish:
uskomattomasti
— in a manner one does not believe
French:
incroyablement
— in a manner one does not believe
Georgian:
დაუჯერებლად
(dauǯereblad)
— in a manner one does not believe
German:
unglaublich
— in a manner one does not believe
German:
unglaubwürdig
— in a manner one does not believe
Greek:
απίστευτα
(apístefta)
— in a manner one does not believe
Italian:
incredibilmente
— in a manner one does not believe
Portuguese:
inacreditavelmente
— in a manner one does not believe
Russian:
невероя́тно
(neverojátno)
— in a manner one does not believe
Spanish:
increíblemente
— in a manner one does not believe
Armenian:
անհավատալի
(anhavatali)
— to an extent not to be believed
Catalan:
increïblement
— to an extent not to be believed
Chinese Mandarin:
难以置信地
— to an extent not to be believed
Czech:
neuvěřitelně
— to an extent not to be believed
Dutch:
ongelooflijk
— to an extent not to be believed
Finnish:
uskomattoman
— to an extent not to be believed
French:
incroyablement
— to an extent not to be believed
French:
extrêmement
— to an extent not to be believed
French:
très
— to an extent not to be believed
Georgian:
დაუჯერებლად
(dauǯereblad)
— to an extent not to be believed
Georgian:
წარმოუდგენლად
(c̣armoudgenlad)
— to an extent not to be believed
German:
unglaublich
— to an extent not to be believed
Greek:
απίστευτα
(apístefta)
— to an extent not to be believed
Hungarian:
hihetetlenül
— to an extent not to be believed
Italian:
incredibilmente
— to an extent not to be believed
Portuguese:
inacreditavelmente
— to an extent not to be believed
Russian:
невероя́тно
(neverojátno)
— to an extent not to be believed
Spanish:
increíblemente
— to an extent not to be believed
Ukrainian:
неймові́рно
(nejmovírno)
— to an extent not to be believed
Armenian:
ապշեցուցիչ
(apšecʻucʻičʻ)
— contrary to expectations
Armenian:
շշմեցուցիչ
(ššmecʻucʻičʻ)
— contrary to expectations
Chinese Mandarin:
难以置信地
— contrary to expectations
Chinese Mandarin:
惊人地
— contrary to expectations
Dutch:
ongelooflijk
— contrary to expectations
Dutch:
wonderbaarlijk
— contrary to expectations
Finnish:
uskomattomasti
— contrary to expectations
French:
incroyablement
— contrary to expectations
German:
wunderbarweise
— contrary to expectations
Greek:
απίστευτα
(apístefta)
— contrary to expectations
Greek:
απροσδόκητα
(aprosdókita)
— contrary to expectations
Italian:
incredibilmente
— contrary to expectations
Portuguese:
inacreditavelmente
— contrary to expectations
Russian:
невероя́тно
(neverojátno)
— contrary to expectations
Spanish:
increíblemente
— contrary to expectations