irrevocably

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "irrevocably" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that cannot be changed, reversed, or undone. Example: "Once the contract is signed, the agreement is irrevocably binding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

However, it is the inn's connection to Gram Parsons that links Joshua Tree irrevocably to rock'n'roll legend.

The Guardian - Travel

Furious Labour officials insisted that Miliband had repeatedly said he would not strike any deal with the SNP on Trident and has committed his party irrevocably to a continuous at-sea deterrent involving four submarines, if that is the view of the Royal Navy.

The Guardian

Running With Mother tells the story of 14-year-old Rudo whose schoolgirl life is irrevocably altered by the arrival of forces to her community to exterminate villagers who are said to be Ndebele dissidents – in effect, anyone and everyone who is Ndebele.

The Guardian

He was the terrifying thug Begbie in Trainspotting, the psychopathic Hillsborough survivor Albie in an award-winning, three-part episode of Cracker; he played Hamish, the amiable, hash-smoking slacker cop, in Hamish Macbeth and Gaz, the downtrodden former steelworker turned stripper in The Full Monty, which made him into an international star and changed his life irrevocably.

The Guardian - Film

These two, who between them have hunted for 150 years (I discover later that Edwards, also still following the hunt by car, is 96), open my eyes to the crucial truth about hunting: for all the arguments over the ban, it had already changed irrevocably long before the anti-hunt campaigners got their teeth into it.

The Guardian

Other countries which have previously because of our leverage on them been willing to improve their human rights will cease to do it and one of the most powerful tools for improving human rights will be irrevocably damaged and I find it impossible to see how that can be in our national interest".

The Guardian

Cook, buoyed by such support, eventually left the crease (to another ovation) with 95 to his name, his team on 213-1, and the series turning, irrevocably, England's way.

The Guardian - Sport

But he said the 79-year-old was irrevocably tainted and his fall was a matter of time.

The Guardian - Sport

We must now finally and irrevocably take this reactionary and unscientific theory down from its pedestal.

The Guardian

That turned the match irrevocably in Barcelona's favour and is a mistake Blanc is unlikely to repeat.

The Guardian - Sport

It was nine years ago that Smyth's life changed irrevocably, his wife insisting he leave the family home.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "irrevocably" to emphasize the permanent and irreversible nature of a change or decision. It adds a strong sense of finality to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "irrevocably" when a simpler word like "permanently" or "finally" would suffice. Overusing it can weaken its impact when describing truly irreversible situations.

Linguistic Context

The word "irrevocably" functions as an adverb, modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate that an action or state is unchangeable or irreversible. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its role in emphasizing the permanence of a situation, such as in the example, "Australia changed irrevocably."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "irrevocably" is an adverb used to emphasize that something is permanent and cannot be reversed. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and prevalence in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While similar to terms like "permanently" and "irreversibly", "irrevocably" carries a stronger sense of finality. It's crucial to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse in less significant situations to maintain its impact. Remember, according to Ludwig, this adverb indicates an unchangeable state, as shown in examples like "Australia changed irrevocably".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irreversibly

Indicates that a change cannot be undone, closely mirroring the meaning of "irrevocably".

irretrievably

Focuses on the inability to recover something, similar to "irrevocably" but emphasizes loss.

unalterably

Highlights the impossibility of altering something, akin to "irrevocably" but more focused on the lack of modification.

permanently

This term suggests a lasting condition, similar to "irrevocably" but lacks the nuance of something being unchangeable.

beyond recall

Highlights that something has passed a point of no return. It is similar to "irrevocably" but specifically relates to memory or retrieval.

definitively

Implies a conclusive resolution, sharing the finality of "irrevocably" but in a more decisive context.

indelibly

Suggests something cannot be removed or forgotten, similar to "irrevocably" when referring to effects or memories.

without recall

Emphasizes the inability to bring something back, mirroring the unchangeable aspect of "irrevocably".

for good

Indicates a permanent change with no return to a previous state. It is similar to "irrevocably" but is less formal.

finally

Suggests an end to doubt or uncertainty, similar to "irrevocably" but less absolute.

FAQs

How can I use "irrevocably" in a sentence?

You can use "irrevocably" to describe actions or decisions that cannot be undone. For example, "The contract was "irrevocably binding"" or "His reputation was "irrevocably damaged"".

What are some alternatives to using "irrevocably"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "permanently", "irreversibly", or "unalterably" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say something is "slightly irrevocably changed"?

Because "irrevocably" implies something cannot be undone, using it with modifiers like "slightly" creates a contradiction. It's better to use a different word if the change isn't entirely permanent.

What's the difference between "irrevocably" and "irreparably"?

"Irrevocably" means something cannot be undone or reversed, while "irreparably" refers to damage that cannot be repaired. They both suggest permanence but focus on different aspects: irreversibility versus irremediability.