Privately Meaning
Privately Definition & Usage
In a way that avoids public attention or interaction, often for reasons of personal privacy, secrecy, or discretion.
Examples
- "She prefers to handle business matters privately rather than in front of others."
- "The couple discussed their plans privately, away from the prying eyes of their friends."
- "He has been struggling privately with the loss of his father."
- "They decided to keep the wedding ceremony private and only invite close family."
- "The artist shared her thoughts privately with her mentor before publishing the new work."
Without the involvement or presence of others; for oneself or alone.
Examples
- "I like to meditate privately in the morning before the day starts."
- "The professor preferred to grade the assignments privately in her office."
- "They conducted the experiment privately to ensure the results were accurate."
- "The children played privately in their room while their parents were busy downstairs."
- "I’ll discuss the issue privately with you after the meeting."
Cultural Context
The word 'privately' comes from the notion of privacy, which is culturally and legally valued in many societies, particularly in the context of personal, family, or professional matters. Over time, privacy has come to be seen as an essential right in various legal systems and personal relationships.
The Private Conversation
Story
The Private Conversation
Maria had always been an open book with her friends. She loved sharing her thoughts, her dreams, her struggles. But there was one topic she wasn’t ready to discuss with anyone—her recent diagnosis. Every time the subject came up, she would change the topic or dodge the question with a smile. She wasn’t ready for the world to know. She needed to process this privately. It was early one morning when she sat at her kitchen table, a cup of coffee in hand, staring at the blank pages of a journal. The silence around her felt comforting, almost necessary. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the stillness, before she wrote down the first words: 'I am not ready to talk about it. Not yet.' Later that afternoon, her friend Emily called. 'Maria, can we talk about it now? You don’t have to do this alone.' Maria hesitated. Emily was her closest friend, but this was something she needed to handle privately. 'Not yet,' Maria said, her voice soft. 'Let me work through it on my own, okay? I'll reach out when I’m ready.' Emily respected her decision. They had always respected each other's need for privacy. Maria knew, when the time came, she would discuss everything—privately, between the two of them. That evening, as Maria sat in front of her mirror, she realized something important. She had been keeping her diagnosis private, but it wasn’t because she was ashamed. It was because she needed time. Time to make sense of it all. She smiled softly to herself. She was handling this in the best way she could—privately, at her own pace, and on her own terms.
Related Words
