You use outwardly to indicate the feelings or qualities that a person or situation may appear to have, rather than the ones that they actually have.
They may feel tired and though outwardly calm, can be irritable.
Outwardly, little seems to have changed.
Synonyms: apparently, externally, seemingly, it seems that More Synonyms of outwardly
outwardly in British English
(ˈaʊtwədlɪ)
adverb
1.
in outward appearance
2.
with reference to the outside or outer surface; externally
outwardly in American English
(ˈaʊtwərdli)
adverb
1.
toward or on the outside
2.
in regard to external appearance or action
Examples of 'outwardly' in a sentence
outwardly
Sometimes they will be directed outwardly and sometimes inwardly.
Tondeur, Keith Say Goodbye to Debt (1994)
She may appear in my clinic outwardly calm and confident.
Steel, Elizabeth Coping With Sudden Hair Loss (1988)
So why are so many outwardly respectable people getting away with daylight robbery?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He is inwardly and sometimes outwardly raging with bitterness and frustration.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She explains how different mixes of cooperation and resistance were used and how people were often outwardly supportive but inwardly contemptuous.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Christianity Today (2000)
It's a surprise to hear that so outwardly confident a band suffer from performance anxiety.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Though outwardly similar, the folding seats will disappear from the new cab.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But most shocking were the antics of an outwardly respectable businesswoman in her mid-forties.
The Sun (2009)
She flew home that night, outwardly very calm.
The Sun (2012)
He's very calm outwardly but inwardly he must be hurting.
The Sun (2008)
A man had to be a hero inwardly and outwardly to be able to draw that bow.
Travers, P L What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)
This also reflects his personal hygiene, outwardly appearing clean but in reality, dirty.
Alexander Masters STUART: A Life Backwards (2005)
The Italian appeared outwardly relaxed, yet beneath the casual demeanour is a man under pressure.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
US officials remain outwardly confident the homegrown forces they have been training over the past six years will be up to the task of containing the violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
outwardly
British English: outwardly ADVERB
You use outwardly to indicate the feelings or qualities that a person or situation may appear to have, rather than the ones that they actually have.
They may feel tired and though outwardly calm, can be irritable.
American English: outwardly
Brazilian Portuguese: para fora
Chinese: 表面上
European Spanish: aparentemente
French: en apparence
German: äußerlich
Italian: esteriormente
Japanese: 見たところは
Korean: 겉으로 보기에는
European Portuguese: para fora
Latin American Spanish: aparentemente
Chinese translation of 'outwardly'
outwardly
(ˈautwədlɪ)
adv
外表上 (wàibiǎo shang)
(adverb)
Outwardly she showed not the faintest sign of concern.
Synonyms
apparently
The deterioration has been caused by an apparently endless recession.
externally
seemingly
Seemingly he is a man with not an ounce of malice in him.
it seems that
on the surface
On the surface the elections appear to be democratic.
it appears that
ostensibly
He came, ostensibly, to see his sick brother but really to discuss selling the house.
on the face of it
On the face of it, that seems to make sense.
superficially
Many of these killers are glib and superficially charming.
to the eye
to all intents and purposes
to all appearances
as far as you can see
professedly
Additional synonyms
in the sense of on the face of it
Definition
to all appearances
On the face of it, that seems to make sense.
Synonyms
to all appearances,
apparently,
seemingly,
outwardly,
at first sight,
at face value,
to the eye
in the sense of on the surface
On the surface the elections appear to be democratic.
Synonyms
at first glance,
apparently,
outwardly,
seemingly,
ostensibly,
superficially,
to all appearances,
to the casual eye
in the sense of ostensibly
He came, ostensibly, to see his sick brother but really to discuss selling the house.
Synonyms
apparently,
seemingly,
supposedly,
outwardly,
on the surface,
on the face of it,
superficially,
to all intents and purposes,
professedly,
speciously,
for the ostensible purpose of
Synonyms of 'outwardly'
outwardly
Explore 'outwardly' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of professedly
Synonyms
supposedly,
apparently,
falsely,
allegedly,
ostensibly,
purportedly,
under the pretext of,
by your own account
in the sense of seemingly
Seemingly he is a man with not an ounce of malice in him.
Synonyms
apparently,
outwardly,
on the surface,
ostensibly,
on the face of it,
to all intents and purposes,
to all appearances,
as far as anyone could tell
in the sense of superficially
Many of these killers are glib and superficially charming.