ironically B2 Topic:Describing Qualities US /aɪˈɹɑnɪkli/ UK /aɪˈɹɒnɪkli/ See IPA manual Freq #13628 Meanings 1 adv Used to point out that something is the opposite of what you would expect Ironically, the machine meant to save money ended up costing more. 2 adv In a way that says the opposite of what you really mean, often as a joke He smiled and said ironically that he just loved working weekends. Thesaurus Word family Derived forms unironically Etymology AI details From ironic + -ally. Topics Describing Qualities External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # ironically **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /aɪˈɹɑnɪkli/ **IPA (UK):** /aɪˈɹɒnɪkli/ **Frequency rank:** 13628 ## Meanings 1. Used to point out that something is the opposite of what you would expect 2. In a way that says the opposite of what you really mean, often as a joke ## Examples - Ironically, the machine meant to save money ended up costing more. - He smiled and said ironically that he just loved working weekends. ## Derived Forms - unironically ## Etymology From ironic + -ally. ## AI Etymology Ironically comes from ironic + -ally. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adverbial form is built from the named base and affix. ## Topics - Describing Qualities markdown