OUTWARDLY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does outwardly mean? 

• OUTWARDLY (adverb)
  The adverb OUTWARDLY has 2 senses:

1. with respect to the outside

2. in outward appearance

  Familiarity information: OUTWARDLY used as an adverb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OUTWARDLY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

With respect to the outside

Synonyms:

externally; outwardly

Context example:

outwardly, the figure is smooth

Sense 2

Meaning:

In outward appearance

Context example:

outwardly, she appeared composed

Antonym:

inwardly (with respect to private feelings)

Pertainym:

outward (relating to physical reality rather than with thoughts or the mind)

 Context examples 

Holmes was outwardly calm, but his whole body gave a wriggle of suppressed excitement as he spoke.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Outwardly I trust that I appear as unconcerned as they.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I can only say that there was smoothness outwardly.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

He was very cool outwardly, but was nervous all the same.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

That minister had always been my secret enemy, though he outwardly caressed me more than was usual to the moroseness of his nature.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

The attachment, from which against honour, against feeling, against every better interest he had outwardly torn himself, now, when no longer allowable, governed every thought; and the connection, for the sake of which he had, with little scruple, left her sister to misery, was likely to prove a source of unhappiness to himself of a far more incurable nature.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Sir Thomas did not know what was wanting, because, though a truly anxious father, he was not outwardly affectionate, and the reserve of his manner repressed all the flow of their spirits before him.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She had only to submit, sit down, be outwardly composed, and feel herself plunged at once in all the agitations which she had merely laid her account of tasting a little before the morning closed.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

There was such deep remorse in his eye, such true pity in his tone, such manly energy in his manner; and besides, there was such unchanged love in his whole look and mien—I forgave him all: yet not in words, not outwardly; only at my heart's core.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

The other was, by a certain composition of gums, minerals, and vegetables, outwardly applied, to prevent the growth of wool upon two young lambs; and he hoped, in a reasonable time to propagate the breed of naked sheep, all over the kingdom.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)