optionally

adverb

Definition of optionallynext
as in alternatively

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for optionally
  1. either
  2. instead
  3. alternately
Adverb
  • The problem doesn’t affect everyone the same way, either.
    Alyssa Johnson, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025
  • The Yankees are unquestionably a deeper team -- and they're not done, either.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of either
Adverb
  • Miami, instead, spent most of its name, image and likeness funds on acquiring veteran defensive linemen, several of whom didn’t exactly pan out.
    Manny Navarro, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Ahead of your next trip, ditch that uncomfortable travel pillow, frustrating toiletry bottles, and clunky duffle bag and opt for some of my essentials that actually work instead.
    Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of instead
Adverb
  • German leaders have alternately criticized Mr. Musk and tried to ignore him.
    Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Roadside shops alternately sold men new tires and women new faces, while storefront signs in butchered French were the only trace of the tender motherhood Mikhail had hoped for.
    Youmna Melhem Chamieh, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Definition of alternately
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near optionally

optional

optionally

options

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Optionally.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/optionally. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on optionally

Britannica English: Translation of optionally for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Top 12 Sophisticated Compliments

Word of the Year 2024 | Polarization

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
white rubber duck stands out in a row of yellow ducks
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.