Conversation and Short Story Examples

Here is how “ostensibly” can be used in a casual conversation:

• Emma: Why did Alex stay behind after the meeting?
  Lucas: He said it was to help clean up, but he was ostensibly trying to chat with the boss.

Let’s see how “ostensibly” can be used in a narrative context:

• He had joined the charity organization ostensibly to help the community, but in reality, he was more interested in building his professional network. At every event, while others worked diligently to raise funds, he could be found handing out business cards and making connections. His intentions were hidden beneath a veil of altruism, ostensibly contributing, but always looking for personal gain.

Everyday Conversations

Here are examples of how to use “ostensibly” in a sentence during everyday conversations. Each sentence using “ostensibly” shows how it might naturally come up in casual dialogue:

• He went to the office ostensibly to finish work, but he ended up chatting with colleagues all day.
• She was ostensibly there to help, but it seemed like she had other motives.
• They were ostensibly offering a discount, but the prices had already been inflated.

Business and Professional Settings

Here are sentences using “ostensibly” in a professional setting. These examples of “ostensibly” in a sentence demonstrate how it can be applied in business and work environments:

• The meeting was ostensibly scheduled to discuss team goals, but it quickly turned into a discussion about budget cuts.
• The CEO was ostensibly visiting to assess operations, but many believed it was to scout for potential layoffs.

Educational and Academic Examples

These sentences show how “ostensibly” can be used in academic settings. Each sentence with “ostensibly” emphasizes its relevance in educational and scholarly contexts:

• The professor was ostensibly teaching an advanced topic, but much of the class felt like a basic review.
• The project was ostensibly focused on environmental issues, but it mainly highlighted the sponsor’s achievements.

Social and Cultural Contexts

Here are examples of “ostensibly” in a sentence within social and cultural contexts. Each sentence for “ostensibly” highlights its application in discussions about society and culture:

• The politician was ostensibly supporting the new policy, but many believed he was simply trying to win votes.
• The festival was ostensibly a celebration of culture, but it seemed more like a promotional event for local businesses.

Part of Speech

Explore how “ostensibly” is used in different parts of speech:

• Adverb: He was ostensibly there to help, but his actions suggested otherwise.
• Adjective (Ostensible): His ostensible goal was to improve the company’s image, but many suspected other motives.

Tenses

Examples of “ostensibly” used in different tenses:

• Past Tense: She was ostensibly excited about the promotion, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.
• Present Tense: He is ostensibly the best candidate for the job, but his experience is questionable.
• Future Tense: They will ostensibly invite everyone to the event, though the guest list may remain exclusive.

Moods

How “ostensibly” is used in different moods:

• Imperative Mood: Don’t let the ostensible purpose fool you; always look deeper!
• Interrogative Mood: Is he ostensibly helping, or is there a hidden agenda?
• Exclamatory Mood: How ostensibly helpful he seems, yet nothing ever gets done!

Voices

How “ostensibly” is used in different voices:

• Active Voice: He ostensibly volunteered for the project, but his enthusiasm quickly faded.
• Passive Voice: The plan was ostensibly approved by everyone, though there were hidden objections.

Literary Devices

How “ostensibly” can be used in various literary devices:

• Metaphor: His actions were ostensibly like a mask, hiding the truth behind a smile.
• Simile: Her kindness was ostensibly like the sun, bright but sometimes deceptive.
• Personification: Ostensible motives crept through every action, cloaking the true intent.
• Alliteration: The ostensible objectives of the operation obscured its real aim.