differently
Americanadverb
-
in a manner unlike another in character or quality; dissimilarly.
This home alarm system works differently from the one in your office.
-
in a way unlike a previous way.
I’m looking at life differently these days.
-
in diverse ways; variously.
Several of the sauces look similar, but they are differently flavored.
-
in an atypical way; unusually.
Dressing differently is just part of her bohemian style.
Etymology
Origin of differently
First recorded in 1350–1400; different ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Instead, Nile’s notoriety and status informed Rhys’ choices: “People treat you differently if they know you’re incredibly wealthy. If you have this social stigma of a missing wife, people treat you very differently.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Since every scale is calibrated differently, what matters is whether the numbers trend up or down over time, he explained.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Hill-Maini believes that his lab's work inspires others to think differently about food waste.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
The researchers selected uranium, cerium, and cesium because each behaves differently during condensation.
From Science Daily • Jun. 3, 2026
But it did not surprise her that the trustees felt differently, given what she had learned of them so far.
From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
