Pronunciation: [ˈa͡ʊtwədli] (IPA) 
Outwardly is spelled as /ˈaʊtwərdli/. The IPA phonetic transcription of this word shows that it is pronounced with a long "a" sound followed by the "ow" diphthong, followed by a schwa sound, and then the "rd" combination is pronounced with a slight pause before the "l" sound at the end of the word. Outwardly is an adverb that means "on the surface" or "externally". It is commonly used to describe a person's behavior or appearance.
Outwardly is an adverb used to describe something that is visible or evident to others, typically in contrast to how it may be perceived internally or in reality. It refers to the external appearance or behavior of a person or thing, excluding any hidden feelings, thoughts, or motives.
In terms of behavior, outwardly often characterizes the way someone presents themselves to others or their public persona. It emphasizes the observable actions, expressions, or mannerisms that individuals exhibit in social or professional settings. For instance, a person may outwardly seem confident and self-assured even if they may harbor insecurities or doubts internally.
Similarly, outwardly can describe the physical appearance of something. It pertains to the external features, traits, or qualities that can be observed, measured, or evaluated by sight or touch. For example, one might describe a building as outwardly imposing due to its grand façade or a flower as outwardly vibrant due to its vivid colors.
Overall, the term outwardly highlights the distinction between appearances and reality. It emphasizes what can be perceived externally, either in terms of behavior or physical attributes, without necessarily providing insight into the internal thoughts, emotions, or true nature of something or someone.
• Externally.
• Externally; in appearance only.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "outwardly" is derived from the combination of two separate linguistic components: "outward" and the suffix "-ly".
The term "outward" originated from the Old English word "ūtweard", which can be split into "ūt", meaning "out", and "weard", meaning "ward" or "direction". Over time, this gave rise to the Middle English word "outward", maintaining its original meaning of "towards the outside" or "exterior".
The suffix "-ly" is a common adverbial suffix in English, derived from the Old English "-lic" or "-lice". It is used to form adverbs from adjectives for the purpose of describing how an action is carried out or the manner in which something is done.
