ambiguously

/æmˈbɪɡjuəsli/ (bre, ipa) · /æmˈbɪɡjuəsli/ (ame, ipa) · /am-ˈbi-gyə-wəs-lē/ (ame, mw)

ambiguously — adverb

1. so that what is said or written can reasonably be taken to mean different things

1.副詞C1
釋義

so that what is said or written can reasonably be taken to mean different things, rather than one clear thing.

例句

The mayor answered ambiguously, so reporters still did not know the date.

answer ambiguously to avoid a clear commitment

Rania worded the email ambiguously, and two teams booked different rooms.

word something ambiguously

同義詞
  • vaguely

    often means lacking detail in general, while ambiguously stresses more than one possible interpretation

  • unclearly

    a broader term for lack of clarity and does not always imply two readings

  • evasively

    focuses on avoiding a direct answer, which is one common reason for speaking ambiguously

  • equivocally

    more formal and often used in careful or legal discussion

反義詞
  • clearly

    shows one meaning plainly and leaves little room for confusion

  • plainly

    emphasizes direct, easy-to-understand wording

  • explicitly

    stresses that every important point is stated without hidden doubt

文法句型

answer ambiguously

word something ambiguously

be ambiguously written

用法筆記

Most often used with verbs of speaking or writing such as answer, phrase, define, or state. It often suggests that the speaker or writer is avoiding a clear commitment, though the lack of clarity may also be accidental.

常見錯誤

❌She spoke ambiguous in the meeting.
✅She spoke ambiguously in the meeting.
💡use the adverb form after a verb, not the adjective.
❌The road turned ambiguously to the left.
✅The sign pointed ambiguously to the left.
💡ambiguously usually describes language, signals, or expressions that can be understood in more than one way.