not necessarily

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   Used to say that something is often true or likely but is not always so, leaving room for exceptions.

   Grammar: Often stands alone as a reply or before a verb: Not necessarily. It does not necessarily mean that.

   Patterns

   • not necessarily true
   • does not necessarily mean something

   Expensive shoes are not necessarily comfortable.

   Being older does not necessarily make you wiser.

   Is the cheapest option the best? Not necessarily.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Used as a short answer to politely disagree with or doubt what someone has just said.

   Grammar: Used alone as a reply: A: That means he lied. B: Not necessarily.

   You think she's angry? Not necessarily; she might just be tired.

   He didn't call, so he forgot? Not necessarily.

Common combinations

not necessarily the case

That is not necessarily the case in smaller towns.

does not necessarily mean

A high score does not necessarily mean the test was easy.

not necessarily true

The rumor is not necessarily true.

not necessarily a bad thing

Change is not necessarily a bad thing.

not necessarily the best

The first answer is not necessarily the best.

Synonyms and how they differ

not always

Not always is simpler and focuses on frequency, while not necessarily focuses on whether something must follow logically.

not automatically

Not automatically stresses that a result does not follow without further steps, whereas not necessarily simply allows exceptions.

not inevitably

Not inevitably is more formal and suggests something could be avoided, while not necessarily is more casual.

Opposites

Word family

necessary adjective

needed; required

necessarily adverb

as a certain or unavoidable result

necessity noun

something needed; the state of being required

necessitate verb

to make something necessary

Commonly confused: not necessarily or not necessary?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “not necessarily”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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