outwardly

[ out-werd-lee ]

adverb

1. as regards appearance or outward manifestation:

   outwardly charming; outwardly considerate.

2. on the outside or outer surface; externally:

   Outwardly, the fruit was rough to the touch.

3. toward the outside:

   The pier stretched outwardly from the shore.

outwardly

/ ˈaʊtwədlɪ /

adverb

1. in outward appearance
2. with reference to the outside or outer surface; externally

Word History and Origins

Origin of outwardly¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; outward, -ly

Example Sentences

Harris tried to walk the fine line of addressing the administration's record without casting shade on her boss, showing a reluctance to break with any of Biden's policies while also not outwardly promoting them on the campaign trail.

From BBC

Logan was mild-mannered and polite, as a couple they had a typical teenage relationship that outwardly showed no red flags until the end.

From BBC

Lawrence himself refuses the role outwardly, citing a crisis of faith, but there are those who accuse him of harboring such ambitions.

From Los Angeles Times

Echoing rhetoric he shared at his outwardly racist rally in Aurora, Colorado earlier this week, Trump called left-wing dissenters "the enemy within" and said that any uproar over his potential second-term could be put down by the military.

From Salon

“It’s one of those comparisons that is helpful when people are saying it about you or your candidate, but it’s not necessarily the type of thing that she or someone on her staff would feel comfortable going around outwardly advertising,” said Brian Brokaw, who led Harris’ 2010 attorney general campaign.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• seemingly
• superficially