Use decisively with verbs of action, speech, or movement when the action is quick, firm, and not hesitant. It is stronger than quickly because it suggests confidence and resolution.
Use decisively with verbs of action, speech, or movement when the action is quick, firm, and not hesitant. It is stronger than quickly because it suggests confidence and resolution.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She made a decisively choice. | She made a decisive choice. |
| His decisively answer ended the delay. | His decisive answer ended the delay. |
| They responded decisive to the warning. | They responded decisively to the warning. |
Use decisively for outcomes that leave little doubt, such as a vote, victory, defeat, test result, or piece of evidence. It often means more than clearly, because it suggests the result changes or ends the matter.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The team won decisively by one point. | The team won narrowly by one point. |
| The evidence decisively suggests a link. | The evidence suggests a link. |
| The vote was decisively close. | The vote was very close. |
Use the word for firm action or for results that leave little doubt. It fits decisions, responses, victories, defeats, votes, and evidence, but it can sound overstated when the outcome is small or uncertain.
She made a decisively choice uses the adverb where the adjective decisive is needed. For close results, won narrowly is more accurate than won decisively.
Formed from decisive plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly. Decisive comes from French and ultimately Latin decidere, meaning to cut off or determine. The sense developed from cutting something off to settling a matter.
What does decisively mean?
It means firmly and confidently, or in a way that clearly settles a result, question, or argument.
Is decisively an adverb?
Yes. Decisively is an adverb, so it usually modifies a verb, adjective, or whole clause.
What is the difference between decisive and decisively?
Decisive is an adjective, as in a decisive answer. Decisively is an adverb, as in answered decisively.
Can a person act decisively?
Yes. To act decisively is to act firmly, confidently, and without unnecessary delay.
What does win decisively mean?
To win decisively is to win clearly and convincingly, often by enough that the result is not in doubt.
What are synonyms of decisively?
Common synonyms include firmly, resolutely, conclusively, definitively, and convincingly.
What is the opposite of decisively?
Opposites include indecisively, hesitantly, inconclusively, and uncertainly.