cursorily
Adverb: - In a hasty and usually superficial manner; performed with only a quick, brief, and incomplete attention to detail. The action is done rapidly to cover the main points or to finish quickly, but not thoroughly or carefully.
The adverb "cursorily" describes how an action is performed. It modifies verbs to indicate the action was done with haste and a lack of depth or attention. - It is typically used in formal or academic writing. - It often carries a slightly negative connotation, suggesting the action was not done with the care or thoroughness it may have required.
- The manager cursorily glanced at the report before the meeting, missing several key errors.
- She cursorily cleaned the kitchen, leaving the stove and floors untouched.
- During the exam, he read the questions cursorily and made many mistakes.
- The inspector cursorily examined the premises, failing to notice the safety violations.
- "To do something cursorily": This is the standard construction, where "cursorily" directly modifies the verb describing the action (e.g., read, examine, review, scan).
- The lawyer cursorily reviewed the contract, which later led to problems.
- Cursory (adjective): Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
- He gave the document only a cursory glance.
- Cursoriness (noun): The quality of being cursory. (This form is rare in modern usage).
- Superficially: Concerned with or understanding only the obvious or apparent.
- Perfunctorily: Carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection, merely as a duty or routine.
- Hastily: With excessive speed or urgency.
- Briefly: For a short time; quickly.
- Thoroughly: In a thorough manner; completely and carefully.
- Meticulously: In a way that shows great attention to detail; very thoroughly.
- Carefully: In a way that deliberately avoids harm or errors; cautiously.
- Scrupulously: In a very careful and thorough way.
While there is no common idiom using "cursorily" itself, the concept is often expressed in phrases like: - "To give something a once-over": To examine or look at something quickly and casually. - He gave the car a once-over before buying it. - "To skim (through) something": To read or look over something quickly to grasp the main ideas. - I only had time to skim through the article.
- without taking pains
- he looked cursorily through the magazine