casually

casually — adverb

1. done without following strict rules about dress, behaviour, or social convention

1.adverbB2
Definition

done without following strict rules about dress, behaviour, or social convention — for instance, greeting a professor by first name or wearing sandals to a dinner party.

Example

Ravi dressed casually for the company picnic, wearing shorts and a T-shirt.

collocation: dress casually

The meeting was held casually in a coffee shop rather than a boardroom.

Common collocations
  • dress casually
  • dressed casually
  • speak casually
  • greet casually
  • talk casually
Synonyms
  • informally

    Very close synonym; informally is slightly more formal in tone than casually itself.

  • nonchalantly

    Describes a relaxed attitude, closer to sense 2 (WITHOUT INTEREST) than to dress code.

Antonyms
  • formally

    Direct opposite — implies strict adherence to rules, dress codes, or social conventions.

Usage Note

Frequently used with verbs of clothing (dress, wear) and communication (speak, greet, talk). Contrasts with formally in both register and appearance.

Common Mistakes

He dressed casually for the funeral.
He dressed formally for the funeral.
A funeral is a formal occasion, so casually would be inappropriate.
She casually signed the contract without reading it.' (This mixes senses — signing without reading is careless, not about dress or manners.)
Use this sense only for informality in clothes or social rules, not for lack of attention.

2. showing little care or concern about something, treating it as if it does not ma

2.adverbB2
Definition

showing little care or concern about something, treating it as if it does not matter much — for example, shrugging when you hear bad news or mentioning a major success as though it were trivial.

Example

Priya mentioned her award casually, as if winning it meant nothing to her.

adverb modifies verb of speaking

The doctor casually dismissed the patient's symptoms, which upset the family greatly.

negative connotation: dismissing something important

Common collocations
  • mention casually
  • dismiss casually
  • glance casually
  • drop casually (news)
  • wave casually
  • say casually
Synonyms
  • nonchalantly

    Emphasises a relaxed, easy manner that hides effort or emotion.

  • indifferently

    Stronger negative connotation of not caring at all.

  • offhandedly

    Focuses on doing something without thinking or preparing.

Antonyms
  • seriously

    Implies genuine concern and attention.

  • carefully

    Opposite of treating something lightly.

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (INFORMALLY): this sense is about emotional detachment or lack of concern, not about dress codes or social informality. A person can be formally dressed yet speak casually about a loss. Common with verbs of communication (mention, say, drop, dismiss) and perception (glance, look, wave).

Common Mistakes

He casually wore jeans to the interview.' (Uses sense 1 correctly — but if the intended meaning is that he didn't care about the interview, use sense 2 instead.)
He casually mentioned that he hadn't prepared for the interview.
Shows lack of concern.

❌ 'She casually jogged around the park.' (Ambiguous — could mean she dressed informally or didn't try hard.) Specify: 'She jogged casually, not really trying to improve her time.'

3. happening without previous planning, serious thought, or deliberate purpose — fo

3.adverbB2
Definition

happening without previous planning, serious thought, or deliberate purpose — for example, making a remark without considering the consequences, or finding something when you are not looking for it.

Example

Hana casually mentioned she might quit, not realising her boss was listening nearby.

lack of intention or forethought

The two old friends met casually at the airport and spent the layover together.

happening by chance, not arranged

Common collocations
  • mention casually
  • meet casually
  • remark casually
  • pick up casually
  • book casually
Synonyms
  • unintentionally

    Stronger emphasis on lack of purpose; less common in everyday speech.

  • haphazardly

    Suggests disorganisation or randomness, often negative.

Antonyms

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 2 (WITHOUT INTEREST): sense 2 focuses on emotional detachment (the person does not care), while sense 3 focuses on lack of planning or chance (the person did not mean to or did not think). A remark can be made casually-without-interest (I don't care what you think) or casually-by-chance (I didn't intend to say it). Test: if 'without caring' fits, use sense 2; if 'without meaning to / unexpectedly' fits, use sense 3.

Common Mistakes

He casually ignored my question.' (Ignoring is deliberate — this sense is about unplanned actions.)
He casually responded without thinking, then regretted his words.
Shows unplanned outcome.

4. done without a regular schedule or permanent arrangement, such as working a few

4.adverbB2
Definition

done without a regular schedule or permanent arrangement, such as working a few days each week without a formal contract or picking up available shifts.

Example

Theo worked casually as a tour guide during the summer, with no fixed schedule.

collocation: work casually

The restaurant employs several people casually, calling them in only when busy.

passive: employed casually

Common collocations
  • work casually
  • employed casually
  • hire casually
  • pay casually
Synonyms
  • temporarily

    Focuses on short duration rather than irregularity of schedule.

  • part-time

    Often overlaps but part-time implies fixed hours fewer than full-time; casually implies no fixed commitment.

Antonyms
  • permanently

    Direct opposite — a permanent position with a regular contract.

  • full-time

    Implies regular, fixed hours each week.

Usage Note

Usually modifies employment-related verbs (work, employ, hire). In this sense, casually contrasts with permanently or full-time. Common in contexts describing part-time, temporary, or freelance arrangements. British English uses casual work more frequently than American English.

Common Mistakes

She casually worked on the project for weeks.' (Here 'casually' sounds like she was relaxed or not interested — use sense 2.)
She worked casually as a freelance designer, taking projects one at a time.
Describes irregular employment.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Casually, informally, and nonchalantly all describe a relaxed manner, but with important differences. Informally focuses on the absence of strict rules or etiquette (dress code, titles, procedures) and is the closest synonym to casually sense 1. Nonchalantly, however, shifts the meaning toward emotional coolness rather than dress or social convention — a person can be formally dressed yet speak nonchalantly. Casually occupies the middle ground: it can describe both relaxed dress (sense 1) and a detached attitude (sense 2). For a learner, the safest rule is: if you mean clothes or social tone, use informally or casually; if you mean a show of not caring, use nonchalantly. Example: 'The CEO casually walked into the cafeteria' suggests relaxed behaviour; 'The CEO nonchalantly ignored the reporters' suggests deliberate coolness.

casually ↗informallynonchalantly

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • very casually
  • quite casually
  • too casually
  • rather casually

Phrases

  • as casually as possible
  • dressed casually for
  • worked casually as

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Casually comes from the Latin word casualis, meaning 'by chance'. It entered English through French in the 14th century as casual, originally referring to things that happen by accident. Over time, the meaning broadened to include anything unplanned or informal. The adverb form casually appeared in the 16th century and gradually developed its modern senses: first 'by chance', then 'informally', and later 'without interest' and 'irregularly'.