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Definition of abstractly

abstractly

/æbˈstrækt.li/
ab · stract · ly
Adjective:abstract
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abstractly Lexical Profile

abstractly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a manner that relates to general concepts, ideas, or principles rather than specific, tangible examples or physical realities.

Example

"The professor preferred to discuss justice abstractly rather than examining individual legal cases."

2

In an artistic style that uses shapes, colors, and forms to achieve an effect rather than depicting realistic objects or scenes.

Example

"She painted the coastal landscape abstractly, reducing the waves and cliffs to bold geometric blocks of blue and ochre."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for abstractly

• Nearby Words

abstractedly
abstraction
abstractionist
abstractly
abstractness
absurd
absurdism

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 15th century from the adjective 'abstract' (borrowed from Latin 'abstractus', meaning 'drawn away', from 'abs-' + 'trahere') and the adverbial suffix '-ly'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Abstractly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/abstractly
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