independently

Meanings

1. 1adverb

   in a way that is not controlled or helped by other people or things

   Grammar: Usually comes after the verb or at the end of a clause: She works independently.

   Patterns

   • work independently
   • act independently
   • live independently
   • independently of someone/something

   After the training, she could work independently without asking for help.

   The two research teams worked independently and reached the same conclusion.

   He lives independently now, though his family checks on him every week.

2. 2adverb

   in a way that is not connected to or influenced by something else

   Grammar: Often used with 'of': The results were calculated independently of each other.

   Patterns

   • independently of something
   • independently verified
   • independently owned

   Each judge scored the performances independently of the others.

   The data was independently verified by a second laboratory.

   These two shops are independently owned, not part of a chain.

Common combinations

work independently

She prefers to work independently rather than in a group.

live independently

After college, he learned to live independently.

independently of

The two events happened independently of each other.

independently owned

The café is independently owned and very popular.

Synonyms and how they differ

alone

Focuses on being without others; independently stresses not being controlled or helped.

separately

Means not together; independently often adds the idea of freedom from control.

autonomously

More formal and technical, often used for machines or regions with self-rule.

Opposites

Word family

independent adjective

Not controlled by others; free.

independence noun

The state of being free from control or help.

Commonly confused: independently or independently vs. independent?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “independently”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words