visibly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "visibly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that can be seen or is apparent to the eye. Example: "She was visibly upset after hearing the news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ronaldo was visibly angry after Bale failed to pass to him but the Portugal player insists it is already water under the bridge for him, while he also said the Madrid fans "should be nice" to the former Tottenham winger.

The Guardian - Sport

Salmond, almost visibly relieved that his self-imposed campaigning ban for the duration of the Games was drawing to an end, replied with a smile: "Ask me tomorrow".

The Guardian - Sport

"Mark Durkan [the SDLP's leader] is an intelligent, self-assured leader who is visibly enjoying the campaign".

The Guardian

Organisers of the One Young World summit, an annual gathering of "the brightest young people from around the world" being staged in Africa for the first time, were visibly mortified.

The Guardian

Look at NSW education minister Adrian Piccoli's understanding of bush schools, most visibly seen in his support for the Gonski funding model and his resistance to Christopher Pyne's changes.

The Guardian

But in 21st-century France, where notions of belonging and identity are so visibly alive with antagonisms, a football manager can easily ignite a media firestorm with a few badly chosen words.

The Guardian - Opinion

The conditions of the boy's birth were so traumatic that our health visitors visibly blanch whenever they see his notes and, because of this, he steadfastly refuses to be apart from us.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The passage of time is marked by repeated rituals, children visibly growing up, and some traumatic prison visits.

The Guardian - Film

The veterans seemed visibly moved and far more invested in his candidacy than the kind of human props candidates usually put on the stage.

The Guardian

Of the original Ashes squad Stuart Broad is injured, Jimmy Anderson visibly exhausted, Alastair Cook in the worst trough of his career, Matt Prior dropped and Kevin Pietersen, who received little support from Giles on the day he was announced in a provisional squad for the World Twenty20, in a kind of unspoken international limbo.

The Guardian - Sport

After a split second of awkwardness, two friendly ladies invited me to sit at the table next to them and the waiter visibly relaxed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "visibly" to add impact when describing emotions or states that are outwardly displayed, enhancing the reader's understanding of a character's or situation's intensity.

Common error

Avoid using "visibly" when the context already implies something is seen. For instance, instead of saying "The painting was visibly colorful", consider simply stating "The painting was colorful".

Linguistic Context

The adverb "visibly" modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating that an action or state is easily seen or apparent. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, aligning with examples showing its role in describing outward manifestations of inner states or qualities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "visibly" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adverb that enhances descriptions by emphasizing what can be easily seen or perceived. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions to clarify and add impact to writing, particularly in contexts where outward appearances are important. While versatile, it's important to avoid redundancy by ensuring the context doesn't already imply something is observable. Remember, while "visibly" is usually neutral, selecting synonyms like "plainly" or "noticeably" can further refine your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clearly

Stresses the lack of obscurity in what is being perceived.

obviously

Emphasizes that something is easily noticed or understood.

noticeably

Highlights that something is easily observed or attracts attention.

plainly

Indicates clarity and ease of perception, differing slightly by emphasizing the lack of ambiguity.

evidently

Indicates that something is clear from the evidence or facts.

apparently

Suggests something appears true based on available evidence, without absolute certainty.

markedly

Implies a significant degree of visibility or distinction.

palpably

Suggests something is so evident it can almost be physically felt.

conspicuously

Emphasizes that something is very noticeable, often in a way that attracts attention.

detectably

Highlights that something can be discovered or noticed.

FAQs

How can I use "visibly" in a sentence?

You can use "visibly" to describe something that is easily seen or apparent. For example, "She was "visibly upset" after hearing the news".

What are some alternatives to "visibly"?

Alternatives to "visibly" include "obviously", "apparently", and "noticeably", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "visibly apparent"?

Saying "visibly apparent" can be redundant because both words imply something is easily seen. It's generally better to choose either "visibly" or "apparent" to avoid repetition.

What's the difference between "visibly" and "obviously"?

"Visibly" emphasizes that something can be seen, while "obviously" emphasizes that something is easily understood or recognized. While they can sometimes be interchangeable, "visibly" focuses on visual perception, while "obviously" focuses on mental understanding.