What does negatively mean?
Negatively is an adverb meaning in an unfavourable, critical, or hostile manner. It is used to describe reactions, attitudes, effects, and responses: a person may react negatively to an announcement, while poor weather can negatively affect a plan. The word is common in formal writing, business communication, journalism, and everyday speech, though it often carries a stronger tone than simply saying that something is not favourable. It can also mean that something is more negative than expected: 'The results were interpreted negatively.' As a derived form of negative, it preserves the idea of opposition or disapproval while describing the manner in which an action or attitude occurs.
adverbIn a negative way; with a lack of approval, enthusiasm, or positive feeling. It can also mean to a greater degree than usual in the negative direction.
- In a way that is critical, hostile, or lacking in approval.
- To a greater than usual extent in the negative direction.
- With a result or effect that is detrimental rather than beneficial.
"She reacted negatively to the proposed changes."
"The committee reacted negatively to the proposal."
"A lack of sunlight can negatively affect plant growth."
Negatively is the grammatical Swiss army knife: add it to a verb, and it shows that an action or reaction points in an unfavourable direction.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does negatively come from?
Negatively was formed in English by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to negative. Negative comes through French from Latin negativus, a form related to negare, 'to deny' or 'to say no'. The same Latin root also underlies English words such as negate, negation, and negativity.
How negatively is actually used
Common in formal and neutral contexts. When followed by a clause, it often takes 'to': 'She responded negatively to the offer.' The phrase 'negatively affect' is standard in general English; avoid confusing it with the less usual 'affect negatively', though both are understandable.
Easily confused with negatively
Negative is an adjective describing something unfavourable or lacking approval, whereas negatively is an adverb describing how someone acts or how something is regarded.
Negatively is the standard adverb derived from negative; negativ(e)ly is not a separate standard spelling.