summarily

American  

[suh-mair-uh-lee, suhm-er-uh-] / səˈmɛər ə li, ˈsʌm ər ə- /

adverb

1. in a prompt or direct manner; immediately; straightaway.

2. without notice; precipitately.

   to be dismissed summarily from one's job.

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Etymology

Origin of summarily

First recorded in 1520–30; summary + -ly

Explanation

Whenever you do something summarily, you act without hesitating or even taking time to explain yourself. A strict babysitter might announce, "Bedtime!" and summarily flip off the lights and close the bedroom door. The adverb summarily describes things that are done in an abrupt, brief way, without any extra details. It's kind to explain to a job applicant why you're not hiring them, rather than summarily saying, "There's the door, goodbye." A related word is summary, meaning "brief," or "containing just the sum or substance." The Latin root, summa, means "whole or gist."

Example Sentences

Any faculty member in a department other than sports would be summarily fired, maybe indicted.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

At one point last year, Miller was floated as a potential White House national security adviser, replacing the ousted Michael Waltz - rumours that the president summarily dismissed.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 2026

While the family was put in a Texas detention center, the government placed them under expedited removal, when immigration officers can summarily deport certain noncitizens without a court hearing.

From Slate • Jul. 4, 2025

Some lower courts had blocked the government from relying on the Alien Enemies Act to summarily expel people to this foreign megaprison in El Salvador.

From Salon • May 16, 2025

When a groom was caught sneaking carrots to Seabiscuit, Pollard ran him off with a pitchfork and the groom was summarily fired.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• arbitrarily
• forthwith
• promptly
• swiftly