Words of Positivity
Browse the A to Z index4,633 ENTRIES

Dependably

adv.capable, resilientprofessional

What it means

In a consistently reliable way that others can count on.

Reach for it when describing steady performance across repeated needs or conditions

The simple radio works dependably even during heavy rain.

Choose between these

5
  • everyday

    consistently

    when the same standard is maintained over time

    not when Consistency alone can describe a repeated weakness or error.

  • warm

    steadily

    when even pace and freedom from disruption are important

    not when Steady progress may be too slow or may miss a promised deadline.

  • professional

    predictably

    when an outcome can be anticipated with confidence

    not when Predictability can sound dull or negative, and a predictable result may still be useless.

  • professional

    reliably

    when repeatable performance is the measured fact

    not when Reliably is technical and may not convey the human reassurance in dependably.

  • literary

    faithfully

    when loyalty or exact adherence gives the action value

    not when Faithfully can imply personal devotion where practical reliability is all that is known.

Said against

3
  • unreliably
  • erratically
  • inconsistently

It naturally appears in

3
  • work dependably

    These lamps work dependably through long winter nights.

  • perform dependably

    The reserve goalkeeper continued to perform dependably.

  • dependably accurate

    Its readings remained dependably accurate during the field trial.

The word family

2

Where this comes from

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.