Admittedly is an adverb meaning 'as could be admitted or acknowledged, even though it may be reluctantly true.' It signals concession and is often used to introduce a point that the speaker accepts but does not fully endorse. The pronunciation emphasizes the second syllable and carries a slightly elevated, formal tone suitable for careful argument or analysis.
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"Admittedly, the project was behind schedule, but we still completed it on time overall."
"Admittedly, the plan has its flaws, yet it remains the most viable option we have."
"Admittedly, he often overreaches, but his insights are valuable in this debate."
"Admittedly, the data is incomplete, but the trend is clear enough to justify action."
Admittedly traces to the late 15th century from the form admittere in Latin, meaning 'to admit, acknowledge.' The Latin root ad- 'toward' + mittere 'to send' absorbed the sense of bringing to mind or acknowledging something. In English, admit became a verb meaning to confess or allow, and ad- + -mire? Actually, the form admittedly comes from the past participle stem admitted with the adverbial suffix -ly. The sense of conceding or granting a point emerges in Early Modern English as speakers used conceded statements in argumentation. The word’s more formal tone grew with use in legal, philosophical, and academic prose, where precise concession is often required. First known usage in print appears in mid-to-late 16th century, evolving from phrases like ‘it is admitted’ into the single adverbial form ‘admittedly,’ signaling an authorial concession. Over centuries, as debates in literature and rhetoric intensified, admittedly maintained its role as a marker of conceded truth or partial truth, without fully endorsing the claim. The pronunciation stabilized as /ədˈmɪtɪdli/ in most varieties, but stress and vowel quality can shift slightly by dialect, especially in rapid speech where the second syllable is emphasized more clearly. The word’s adaptability made it a common feature in scholarly writing, journalism, and sophisticated discourse, continuing to serve as a polite, formal preface to a concession.
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Words that rhyme with "admittedly"
-ily sounds
-lly sounds
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Pronounced as /ədˈmɪtɪdli/ in General American. The syllables break as uhd-MIT-id-lee, with the primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a clear /mɪt/ cluster, followed by a light /ɪd/ and a final /li/. In careful speech you can aspirate the /t/ more distinctly. IPA: US /ədˈmɪtɪdli/, UK /ədˈmɪtɪdli/, AU /ədˈmɪtɪdli/.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing the stress, saying ad-MIT-ty or AD-mit-ted-ly; keep primary stress on the second syllable: ad-MIT-ted-ly with clear /t/ and /ɪ/ in the middle. (2) Slurring the final -ly into a quick /lɪ/ or losing the /d/ in the middle, giving ad-MI-ted-lee or ad-MIT-eyd; ensure the /d/ is light but present before the final /li/. Practice controlled tongue tip contact for the /t/; the /d/ in the middle should be voiced but subtle.
In US English, primary stress is clearly on the second syllable: /ədˈmɪtɪdli/. UK English remains similar but with a slightly crisper /t/ and non-rhotic R environment (no rhoticity to influence preceding vowels). Australian pronunciation tends toward a slight reduction in the first syllable, with a more centralized /əˈmɪtɪdli/ in fast speech; vowel qualities may be lighter and the final /li/ lengthened a touch. Overall, the core /ˈmɪt/ syllable is prominent across regions.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure with a stressed central syllable and the cluster /tɪd/ following /mɪ/. The /t/ and /d/ are adjacent but different articulations, which can blur in rapid speech. A fourth syllable /li/ adds a rest for the tongue, so maintaining even timing and preventing assimilation of the consonants is key. Also, the weak initial schwa can cause misplacement of stress if you rush the onset.
A distinctive feature is the clear secondary /ɪ/ in the second half of the word after /t/. Some speakers reduce the /ɪ/ slightly in casual speech, yielding /ədˈmɪtdli/; but careful, precise pronunciation keeps /tɪd/ as a compact but audible unit, with the /l/ following without a vowel intrusion. Visualize saying 'ad-MIT-id-lee' with a light but crisp /d/ before the /l/.
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