sharply
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adverb:
- With a sudden and significant change: Indicates a very sudden and often large increase, decrease, or change in degree, level, or intensity.
- With an abrupt change in direction: Describes a sudden and distinct change in the course or angle of something.
- In a clearly defined or distinct manner: Refers to something being outlined, defined, or contrasted with great clarity and precision.
- In a harsh, severe, or aggressive manner: Describes speech, questioning, or criticism that is direct, penetrating, and often severe.
Usage Examples
- Adverb:
- Prices rose sharply during the crisis. (This shows a sudden and significant increase.)
- The road turns sharply to the right. (This indicates an abrupt change in direction.)
- The silhouette of the mountain was sharply outlined against the sky. (This describes a very clear and distinct definition.)
- The lawyer sharply questioned the witness. (This describes aggressive and penetrating questioning.)
Advanced Usage
- "to contrast sharply": to differ in a very clear and noticeable way.
- His modern ideas contrast sharply with the company's traditional values.
- "to drop/fall sharply": to decrease very suddenly and significantly.
- Temperatures are expected to fall sharply overnight.
Variants and Related Words
- Sharp (adjective): Having a thin edge or fine point; sudden and distinct; severe or harsh.
- A sharp knife, a sharp turn, a sharp criticism.
- Sharpness (noun): The quality or degree of being sharp.
- The sharpness of the image, the sharpness of his tone.
Synonyms
- Abruptly: Suddenly and unexpectedly.
- Precipitously: Very rapidly and suddenly (often for decreases).
- Acutely: Extremely, intensely, or with a sharp point/angle.
- Distinctly: In a way that is clear and unmistakable.
- Harshly: In a severe, cruel, or unkind manner.
Related Phrases
- Look sharply: To look or observe very attentively and keenly.
- The guard was told to look sharply for any intruders.
- Speak sharply: To talk in a critical, abrupt, or angry tone.
- She spoke sharply to the child who was misbehaving.
Related Idioms
- Sharply critical: Expressing strong disapproval or judgment in a direct and severe way.
- The review was sharply critical of the director's latest film.
- In sharp focus: Very clearly defined visually or conceptually.
- With the new lens, the subject was in sharp focus.
Adverb
- very suddenly and to a great degree
- conditions that precipitously increase the birthrate
- prices rose sharply
- changing suddenly in direction and degree
- the road twists sharply after the light
- turn sharp left here
- the visor was acutely peaked
- her shoes had acutely pointed toes
- in a well delineated manner
- the new style of Minoan pottery was sharply defined
- in an aggressive manner
- she was being sharply questioned