terribly

English

Etymology

From terrible +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈtɛɹ.ɪ.bli/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Hyphenation: ter‧ri‧bly

Adverb

terribly (comparative more terribly, superlative most terribly)

  1. (literary or dated) So as to cause terror or awe.
    The lion roared terribly.
    • 1959, Anthony Burgess, Beds in the East (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 519:
      The mere sensuous impact of trumpet or saxophone, whatever it happened to be playing, was an echo, even though a faint echo, of that excitement and abandon. He wanted to taste, smell, hear: his senses were terribly alive.
  2. Very; extremely.
    He's terribly busy and you really shouldn't bother him.
    • 2011 December 15, Felicity Cloake, “How to cook the perfect nut roast”, in Guardian‎:
      The parsnip, stilton and chestnut combination may taste good, but it's not terribly decorative. In fact, dull's the word, a lingering adjectival ghost of nut roasts past that I'm keen to banish from the table.
  3. Very badly.
    She took part in the karaoke, but sang terribly.

Synonyms

Collocations
with adjectives
  • terribly wrong
  • terribly sorry
  • terribly important
  • terribly difficult
  • terribly hard
  • terribly afraid
  • terribly sad
  • terribly bad
  • terribly expensive
  • terribly long
  • terribly upset
  • terribly exciting
  • terribly fast
  • terribly excited
  • terribly slow
  • terribly cold
  • terribly hot
  • terribly busy
  • terribly concerned
  • terribly pleased
  • terribly interesting
  • terribly painful
  • terribly funny
  • terribly lonely
  • terribly ill
  • terribly good
  • terribly tired
  • terribly strong
  • terribly confused
  • terribly serious
  • terribly fond
  • terribly old
  • terribly angry
  • terribly anxious
  • terribly effective
  • terribly depressed
  • terribly familiar
  • terribly attractive
  • terribly happy
  • terribly poor
  • terribly hungry
  • terribly sick
  • terribly big
  • terribly nice
  • terribly small
  • terribly dull
  • terribly clever
  • terribly dirty
  • terribly proud
  • terribly disappointing
  • terribly sweet
  • terribly original
  • terribly ashamed
  • terribly efficient
  • terribly successful
  • terribly jealous
  • terribly simple
  • terribly strange
  • terribly cruel

Translations
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