namely

adverb

name·​ly ˈnām-lē 

: that is to say : to wit

Synonyms of namely

• especially
• specifically
• specially
• to wit

Examples of namely in a Sentence

there's always one person stuck with cleaning up the mess, namely me

Recent Examples on the Web

There have been a few challenges with the kitchen, namely using an oven designed for making bagels to bake bread. — Connie Ogle july 17, Miami Herald, 17 July 2026

Yup, that’s Debbie (Spencer), a Yale Law graduate whose days are dedicated to doing everything her hubby is too dumb to do himself (namely, his entire job) and whose nights are spent calling her kids, hosting book club, and planning for the future. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

On the casual front, the athlete opts for kicks from Nike, namely Nike Cortez and the Tabi-esque split-toe Nike Air Rift. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 15 July 2026

Laversay Taylor said his brother takes a lot off his plate, namely running the team’s strength and conditioning program. — Jack Leo, AJC.com, 15 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for namely

• gamely
• lamely
• tamely

Kids Definition

namely

adverb

name·​ly ˈnām-lē 

: that is to say

the cat family, namely, lions, tigers, and related animals