Ostensibly

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /əˈstɛnsəbli/

Definitions of ostensibly

adverb ostensibly is an adverb that is used to describe something that appears to be true or real, but may not actually be so

Example Sentences

A1 She was ostensibly studying for her exams, but really she was just watching TV.

A2 The store was ostensibly closed, but I could see people inside shopping.

B1 The company's CEO was ostensibly focused on increasing profits, but employees suspected ulterior motives.

B2 The politician's speech was ostensibly about healthcare reform, but it was really a campaign rally.

C1 The artist's latest exhibit was ostensibly about nature, but critics saw deeper themes of mortality and decay.

C2 The charity organization was ostensibly helping the homeless, but rumors of embezzlement started circulating.

Examples of ostensibly in a Sentence

formal The company's decision to cut costs was ostensibly to improve efficiency.

informal She ostensibly went to the store to buy groceries, but ended up buying clothes instead.

slang He ostensibly said he was sick to skip school and go to the beach.

figurative Her smile was ostensibly bright, but her eyes revealed her true sadness.

Grammatical Forms of ostensibly

past tense

ostensiblyed

plural

ostensiblys

comparative

more ostensibly

superlative

most ostensibly

present tense

ostensibly

future tense

will ostensibly

perfect tense

has ostensiblyed

continuous tense

is ostensiblying

singular

ostensible

positive degree

ostensible

infinitive

to ostensibly

gerund

ostensiblying

participle

ostensiblyed

Origin and Evolution of ostensibly

First Known Use: 1765 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'ostensibly' originated from the Latin word 'ostensus', which means 'to show' or 'to display'.
Evolution of the word: Originally used to indicate something that is outwardly appearing a certain way but may not be the case in reality, the word 'ostensibly' has retained its meaning over time and is still used in a similar context today.