adv

vicariously

veye-KURR-ee-uhs-lee

adv

By imagining or experiencing something through someone else's actions or feelings, rather than directly.

"She lived vicariously through her daughter's travels."

"He enjoyed the thrill of skydiving vicariously by watching videos of it."

How to Use Vicariously

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishExperiencing something indirectly, through someone else rather than firsthand.

Common pairings

live vicariously through experience vicariously

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She lived _____ through her daughter's travels.

From vicarious plus the adverb suffix -ly; vicarious comes from Latin vicarius, "substitute."

famously anxiously seriously obviously curiously furiously nervously viciously jealously hideously previously vigorously