Wiktionary

terribly

English

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Etymology

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From terrible ‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

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

Adverb

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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[1]:
      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

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Collocations

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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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