Definition

Adverb: - To a large degree or extent; very much: Used to emphasize the intensity, degree, or amount of something. It indicates a significant or notable change, difference, or effect.

Usage and Examples

• Modifying a verb (most common): Used to describe how much an action is performed or how much a state changes.

  • The city has greatly expanded in the last decade.
  • I greatly appreciate your help with this project.
  • Her confidence greatly increased after the successful presentation.

• Modifying an adjective in the past participle form: Often used with adjectives ending in -ed that function as verb participles.

  • We were greatly amused by the comedian's performance.
  • The team was greatly relieved to hear the good news.
  • His contributions are greatly valued.

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Formality: "Greatly" is more formal than "very much" and is commonly used in written English, formal speech, and literature.
• Typical Collocations: It frequently collocates with verbs and participles related to change, appreciation, influence, or effect (e.g., ).
• Position in Sentence: It usually comes before the verb it modifies or between an auxiliary verb and the main verb (e.g., ). It typically comes after the verb "to be" when modifying a participle (e.g., ).

Variants and Related Words

• Great (adjective): Of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above average.
  • She has made a great effort.
• Greatness (noun): The quality of being great; eminence or distinction.
  • He achieved greatness in his field.

Synonyms

• Considerably: By a notably large amount or to a significant degree.
• Substantially: To a great extent or degree.
• Immensely: To an exceedingly great extent; enormously.
• Enormously: To a very great degree or extent.
• Tremendously: Extremely; very much.

Antonyms

• Slightly: To a small degree; not considerably.
• Marginally: To only a limited extent; minimally.
• Barely: Only just; almost not.

Common Phrases and Idioms

(Note: "Greatly" itself is not typically used in idiomatic phrases. The related adjective "great" is used instead.) - A great deal: A large amount; very much. - The new policy will help a great deal. - In great measure: To a large extent. - His success was in great measure due to hard work.

Adverb

1. to an extraordinary extent or degree
   • he improved greatly