Definition

1. 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

1. very suddenly and to a great degree
   • conditions that precipitously increase the birthrate
   • prices rose sharply
2. 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
3. in a well delineated manner
   • the new style of Minoan pottery was sharply defined
4. in an aggressive manner
   • she was being sharply questioned