Definition

1. Adverb:
   • To a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common: Used to single out one person, thing, or situation over all others; to an exceptional degree.
   • For a particular purpose or person: In a special manner; specially.

Usage and Examples

• To a greater degree:
  • I love all music, especially jazz. (This singles out jazz as a more favored type.)
  • The road is dangerous, especially at night. (The danger is greater at night than at other times.)
• In a special manner:
  • The cake was especially made for her birthday. (It was made for a special, particular purpose.)

Advanced Usage

• "not especially": Used to mean "not very" or "not particularly."
  • I'm not especially fond of coffee. (I do not like coffee very much.)
• Used to introduce the most significant example or reason.
  • Many animals are endangered, especially due to habitat loss.

Variants and Related Words

• Special (adj): Better, greater, or otherwise different from what is usual.
• Specially (adv): For a special purpose. (Note: In many contexts, 'especially' and 'specially' are interchangeable, but 'especially' is more common for meaning "particularly.")
• Particularly (adv): Used to single out an item or emphasize a point; very.

Synonyms

• Particularly
• Notably
• Specifically
• Chiefly
• Above all

Related Phrases and Idioms

• None commonly associated solely with "especially." It typically functions as a standard adverb modifying adjectives, verbs, or whole sentences to add emphasis.

Adverb

1. in a special manner
   • a specially arranged dinner
2. to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
   • he was particularly fussy about spelling
   • a particularly gruesome attack
   • under peculiarly tragic circumstances
   • an especially (or specially) cautious approach to the danger