Cool MateBy all means vs Definitely
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
By all means
Top 2,000 (common)
Definitely
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
Most common: Definitely
| By all means | Definitely | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //baɪ ɔːl miːnz//🇺🇸 //baɪ ɔl minz// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Of course; definitely. | For sure, without a doubt |
| Example | By all means, feel free to ask any questions. | I definitely remember sending the letter. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | by all means, yes, by all means, but by all means, consider by all means, allow by all means | definitely agree, definitely believe, definitely know |
| Antonyms | - | doubtfully, uncertainly |
| Common mistakes | Used in a negative context; it's always positive., Confused with 'by no means', which indicates the opposite., Used incorrectly as a question; it's a statement. | Often confused with 'defiantly' which means resisting authority., Sometimes spelled incorrectly as 'definately'. |
| Usage notes | Used to express strong agreement or permission. Appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: By all means vs Definitely
What's the difference between By all means and Definitely?
By all means: Of course; definitely. Definitely: For sure, without a doubt
Which is more common: By all means and Definitely?
Definitely is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
By all means: By all means, feel free to ask any questions. Definitely: I definitely remember sending the letter.
Can I use By all means and Definitely interchangeably?
Not always. By all means 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.