Unanimously
/juːˈnænɪməsli/
adverbB2adverb form
Definition
Unanimously describes a situation where all people involved agree fully on a decision or opinion. It means there is no disagreement; everyone shares the same view or choice.
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See It in Action
With complete agreement by all members of a group
- •The committee unanimously approved the new rules.
- •The jury reached a verdict unanimously after careful discussion.
- •The team voted unanimously to start the project next week.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "unanimously" like "all together" but for agreement—everyone says "yes" at the same time.
- ✓Picture a group of friends all raising their hands to say "yes" to the same idea.
- ✓It's the feeling of complete agreement, like when a team is happy with the same plan.
- ✓Sounds like "you-NAN-i-mous-ly" → imagine a group saying "Yes, NAN is the boss!" to remember full agreement.
- ✓Remember important meetings or votes where no one says "no"—everyone is unanimous.
- ✓NOT like "mostly" (some agree, some don't), "unanimously" means 100% agreement.
- ✓NOT like "majority" (more than half agree), "unanimously" means every single person agrees.
- ✓NOT like "disagree" or "argue," which mean people have different opinions.
Try Other Words
- •Collectively: meaning all together as a group (Use when emphasizing group action, but not necessarily full agreement)
- •In full agreement: meaning everyone agrees completely (Use when you want to explain the meaning clearly)
- •Without objection: meaning no one disagrees or objects (Use in formal or legal contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "un-" (not) + "animus" (mind, spirit) + "-ous" (adjective ending) + "-ly" (adverb ending)
- •Etymology: From Latin "unanimus," meaning "of one mind," combined with "-ly" to make an adverb
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe people who share the same feelings or opinions; now used mainly in voting or decision contexts
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe decisions or votes where everyone agrees fully, especially in meetings or groups
Reflect & Connect
•Why is it important for groups to make decisions unanimously in some situations?
•Can you think of a time when unanimous agreement was difficult to achieve? What happened?
Fill in the blanks
1.The board voted unanimously ___ the new budget plan, so it was accepted quickly.
2.A unanimous decision means there were ___ disagreements or opposing opinions.
3.Unlike majority votes, unanimous votes require ___ members to agree.
4.The team acted unanimously ___ their leader’s suggestion without any objections.
5.When a jury agrees unanimously, it means the verdict has ___ support from all jurors.
6.The proposal passed unanimously because no one ___ any concerns.
7.To pass a rule unanimously, every member must ___ in favor without hesitation.