Meaning & use
internationally
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a way that involves or reaches several countries, rather than just one.
Grammar: Often placed before an adjective or participle, or at the end of a clause: internationally known, travel internationally.
Patterns
- be known internationally
- travel internationally
The singer is internationally famous.
The company ships its goods internationally.
Their research was recognized internationally.
adverbnot comparableformal
Between countries or according to agreements shared by many countries.
Grammar: Often used with legal or political terms: internationally recognized.
Patterns
- internationally recognized something
The border is not internationally recognized.
Internationally agreed rules protect whales.
The treaty was internationally accepted.
Common combinations
- internationally known
- The chef is internationally known for her desserts.
- internationally recognized
- It is an internationally recognized standard.
- compete internationally
- Our team will compete internationally next year.
- travel internationally
- He travels internationally for work.
- internationally acclaimed
- The internationally acclaimed film won several prizes.
- operate internationally
- The firm operates internationally in twelve countries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- globally
- Globally suggests the whole world at once, while internationally can mean just a few countries.
- worldwide
- Worldwide stresses reaching all parts of the world, and it can be used as an adjective too.
- abroad
- Abroad means in or to another country from the speaker's own, and does not describe fame or agreement.
- multinationally
- Multinationally is rare and used for businesses working in many nations.
Opposites
Word family
- international adjective
- involving more than one country
- internationalism noun
- the belief in cooperation between nations
- internationalize verb
- to make something international
- nation noun
- a country with its own government
Commonly confused: internationally or globally? internationally or international?
internationally vs globally
Globally covers the whole planet, whereas internationally can describe just a handful of countries.
internationally vs international
International is the adjective (an international flight), while internationally is the adverb that describes how something is done or known.
Practice
Which phrase uses internationally correctly?
Choose one answer.
Internationally modifies the participle respected, as in internationally respected. The other options break the word order or use the wrong word form.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “internationally”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.