especially
/is'peʃəli/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- in a special manner
- a specially arranged dinner
- 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