absolutely

From absolute +‎ -ly, from Middle English.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈæb.sə.ˌl(j)uːt.lɪ/, /ˌæb.sə.ˈl(j)uːt.lɪ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌæb.sə.ˈlut.li/, /ˈæb.sə.ˌlut.li/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

absolutely (not comparable)

1. In an absolute or unconditional manner; utterly, positively, wholly. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
2. Independently; viewed without relation to other things or factors. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
3. (grammar) In a manner that does not take an object.

• Absolutely is not to be confused with intensives such as very or indeed, as it is an unconditional term, absolutely/*very essential, vital or crucial.

• (in an absolute or unconditional manner): See also Thesaurus:completely
• (viewed without relation to other things): See also Thesaurus:individually

absolutely

1. Yes, certainly; expression indicating strong agreement. [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]

   Is Bob a good teacher?
   Absolutely!

   Do you want a free cookie with that coffee?
   Absolutely!

• Some commentators, especially in England, criticise the interjectional use as having no meaning beyond that of yes.[2] This is not to mean that emphasis is useless, which of course, pragmatically speaking, it isn’t; rather, it means that absolutely is better avoided when there is no emphasis, or, in other words, when the meaning is simply Yes (compare, in French, the use of Tout à fait as an answer, with the meaning of Oui, which is advised against by the French Academy). On the other hand, emphasis can also be expressed in other ways: for instance, Yes, of course, Yes, indeed, Yes, certainly.

• absitively posolutely