Cool MateAbsolutely vs Definitely
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Absolutely
Top 1,000 (very common)B1adverb
Definitely
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
| Absolutely | Definitely | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈæbsəluːtli/","/ˌæbsəˈluːtli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/ |
| Meaning | completely or totally | For sure, without a doubt |
| Example | I absolutely agree with your point of view. | I definitely remember sending the letter. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | absolutely certain, absolutely necessary, absolutely perfect, absolutely agree, absolutely right | definitely agree, definitely believe, definitely know |
| Antonyms | partially, conditionally, uncertainly | doubtfully, uncertainly |
| Common mistakes | Using 'absolutely' when 'maybe' is more appropriate., Saying 'absolutely' in a sarcastic tone but not indicating sarcasm., Confusing 'absolutely' with 'certainly' in non-emphatic contexts. | Often confused with 'defiantly' which means resisting authority., Sometimes spelled incorrectly as 'definately'. |
| Usage notes | Used to emphasize something; can be informal in some contexts. Avoid in overly casual conversations where simpler terms are preferred. | Use 'definitely' to emphasize certainty. It fits well in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where alternatives like 'certainly' might be more suitable. |
Frequently asked questions: Absolutely vs Definitely
What's the difference between Absolutely and Definitely?
Absolutely: completely or totally Definitely: For sure, without a doubt
Are Absolutely and Definitely the same CEFR level?
Absolutely: B1, Definitely: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Absolutely and Definitely interchangeably?
Not always. Absolutely and Definitely are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.