descriptively

Descriptively is an adverb that denotes describing something in a descriptive manner, emphasizing details, imagery, and representation rather than argument, analysis, or evaluation. The form is derived from the adjective descriptive, which in turn comes from the verb describe, with the suffix -ly creating the adverb.

The word is commonly used in writing, art criticism, journalism, and linguistics to indicate the mode of depiction. A passage described descriptively focuses on how things appear, feel, or are perceived, often appealing to the senses. It can be used to characterize styles, such as a descriptively rich travel narrative or a descriptively detailed catalog entry. It does not, by itself, judge or interpret; rather, it signals that the emphasis is on depiction.

Etymologically, descriptively follows the same pattern as other -ive adjectives formed from describe, then extended into -ively to form an adverb. In practice, the term helps distinguish manner of description from other modes such as analytically or critically.

Examples include: “The guide spoke descriptively of the coastal cliffs, highlighting color, texture, and light,” or “The brochure presents the product descriptively, focusing on appearance and use rather than specifications.” In scholarly writing, descriptively can contrast with evaluatively or analytically, indicating that the author’s aim is to render a vivid picture rather than to argue a claim.

See also: descriptive, descriptiveness, descriptivism, descriptive writing.