verily

USAGE SUMMARY

"verily" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to emphasize truth or certainty, often in a formal or archaic context. Example: "Verily, I say unto you, the truth shall prevail." Alternative expressions include "truly," "indeed," and "certainly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In the Indian tradition the Rigveda expresses skepticism in this manner: He, the first origin of this creation, whether he formed it all or did not form it, Whose eye controls this world in highest heaven, he verily knows it, or perhaps he knows not.

Encyclopedia Britannica

As noted in the Brihadaranyka Upanishad, "Verily, by the seeing of, by the hearing of, by the thinking of, by the understanding of the Atman, all this [phenomenal world] is known".

Encyclopedia Britannica

The most common name of Muhammad of Islam, Muhammad ("the Glorified One"), is part of the daily call to prayer (adhān); following the attestation to the oneness of God, the believer proclaims, "Verily, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God" (Ashhadu anna Muḥammadan rasūl Allāh).

Encyclopedia Britannica

He, the first origin of this creation, whether he formed it all or did not form it, Whose eye controls this world in highest heaven, he verily knows it, or perhaps he knows not.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The single allusion to Mīkāl in the Qurʾān (2 98) states: "Whoever is an enemy of God or his angels or his apostles or Jibrīl or Mīkāl, verily God is an enemy of the unbelievers".

Encyclopedia Britannica

Not only is this very useful because it gives you a uniform browsing experience across all your computers, it's also verily cool indeed.

Independent

Verily, this is a story of miraculous rebirth.

Independent

Merrily we laughed and verily she deserved a lot of it.

Independent

"Verily they remind the sunnah of removing the head of the enemy.

Independent

Kate Moss's favourite brand Hunter – verily the Chanel of wellingtons (even though Chanel does, in fact, offer a mock-quilted rubber boot for approximately four figures) – will this season embark on a mission to trendify the welly.

Independent

The fact that you're there makes it verily "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "verily" with simple, direct language to create a contrast that can add emphasis or humor to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "verily" excessively in everyday conversations or informal writing. Its archaic tone can sound unnatural and pretentious in modern settings. Instead, opt for more common synonyms like "truly" or "indeed".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "verily" is to act as an adverb of emphasis, strengthening the assertion being made. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates truth or certainty, similar to "truly" or "indeed".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Encyclopedias

26%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

7%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "verily" functions as an adverb emphasizing truth or certainty, as corroborated by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct and frequently found in diverse sources, its archaic tone makes it best suited for formal contexts like historical texts or when aiming for a deliberately old-fashioned style. Alternatives such as "truly" or "indeed" offer more contemporary options. Use "verily" judiciously to avoid sounding out of place in modern communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

truly

A common synonym expressing sincerity and truthfulness, but less formal than "verily".

indeed

Similar in meaning, but often used to confirm or acknowledge a previous statement.

in truth

More descriptive and slightly less archaic, emphasizing the factual accuracy of a statement.

assuredly

Conveys confidence and certainty, suitable for formal contexts.

certainly

Indicates a firm belief or expectation, widely applicable in various situations.

undoubtedly

Expresses a lack of doubt or question, suitable for strong affirmations.

without a doubt

A more emphatic phrase conveying certainty and conviction.

soothly

An archaic synonym, very similar to "verily" in tone and usage.

in fact

Used to introduce a statement of reality or truth, often in contrast to a previous assumption.

honestly

Emphasizes the speaker's sincerity and truthfulness, often in a personal context.

FAQs

How to use "verily" in a sentence?

"Verily" is typically used to emphasize the truth or certainty of a statement. For example, "Verily, I say unto you, the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

What can I say instead of "verily"?

You can use alternatives like "truly", "indeed", or "certainly" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "verily" or "very"?

"Verily" and "very" have different meanings and uses. "Verily" means truly or certainly, while "very" is an intensifier. For example, "He is very tired" uses "very" correctly, but "Verily, he is tired" uses "verily" to emphasize the truth of his tiredness.

What's the difference between "verily" and "soothly"?

"Verily" and "soothly" are both archaic adverbs meaning truly or in truth. They are largely interchangeable, though "soothly" is even less common in modern usage.