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admittedly

admittedly

97 4.3
Saying that something is true before you say something different
  • adverb
  • /ədˈmɪtədli/
translation icon : es cierto que
  • I was late to the meeting, but admittedly, traffic was heavier than I expected.
  • admittedly extreme
  • admittedly partial
  • admittedly an extreme case

So it's, it's new technology, it's crazy technology, it's admittedly scary technology.

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Examples

  • Before I met him, I was, admittedly, blue, or more accurately, depressed.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • And everything had gone wrong between us, and it was all my fault, admittedly.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • Thus far, we focused our attention on the admittedly more important problems getting our programs to work.

  • OK, I admittedly have been using it quite a bit lately.

  • However, it's taken longer than anticipated, and we found ourselves admittedly low on stores.

  • Like the rest of us, he had to earn his living, which admittedly wasn't easy in times like these.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • At the same time, admittedly, the spectator is distracted.

  • Admittedly, Viv and Bex were difficult to get close to.

  • I have an admittedly insane idea, but if I don't ask you this, it's gonna haunt me the rest of my life.

  • "The pattern is altered, admittedly, but only in terms of its elegance and ingenuity.

    Fiction book (1996)

Synonyms

to be honest
vsadmittedly
  • Informal
221 2.3

To show you are telling the truth or how you really feel

serves specifically to concede a point before offering contrast
to be sure
vsadmittedly
104 4.9

Admitting something is true before you say something else

is used the same way but with less temporary tone
to tell the truth
vsadmittedly
  • Informal
48 3.2

To say something that is true even if it is surprising

is used to concede a point, not only to show frankness
avowedly
vsadmittedly
  • Formal
1 7.7

In an open and clear way, as when someone says or admits something

focuses on concession before contrast rather than public declaration
concededly
vsadmittedly
  • Formal
7.3

Admitting that something is true

is used to concede before adding a contrasting point
confessedly
vsadmittedly
8.1

As someone openly admits

concedes a point in general before presenting a contrast
true
vsadmittedly
2.2

Admitting a point that goes against what you said

serves the same qualifying admission but used more generally
granted
vsadmittedly
3.9

To admit something is true before giving a different point

is similar but often introduces a following contrast specifically

How Admitted

undeniably
29 4.4
concededly
  • Formal
7.3
admittedly
97 4.3
arguably
135 4.4

Surface Forms

admittedly positive

Morphology

admittedly = admitted (transparent) = admit + ed + ly

Formed regularly by adding '-ly' to 'admitted' to make an adverb; the meaning 'as is acknowledged' is directly predictable.

Etymology

Admittedly comes from the verb admit ('to accept' or 'confess') plus the ending -ly, which makes it an adverb. So you use admittedly when you accept a fact or admit a point before you add another, often contrasting, idea.