INDEX:
1. very
2. extremely
RELATED WORDS
see also
↑ COMPLETELY
↑ TOO/TOO MUCH
↑ FAIRLY/QUITE
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1. very
▷ very /ˈveri/ [adverb]
▪ Juan is a very good dancer.
▪ Your house is very different from the way I’d imagined it.
▪ ‘Was it a good movie?’ ‘Yes, very.’
▪ This meeting is very important, so be on time.
▪ During our time working together I got to know her very well.
▪ Everything was happening very quickly, and I don’t remember it all.
▪ The ambassador made a brief statement, saying that the talks had been very productive.
▷ really /ˈrɪəli/ [adverb] especially spoken
use this especially to talk about your feelings or what you think about something :
▪ It’s really cold out there.
▪ I’m always really hungry by noon.
▪ That’s a really pretty dress - where did you get it?
▪ Considering this was your first time, I think you did really well.
▷ highly /ˈhaɪli/ [adverb] formal
very - use this only with particular adjectives :
highly dangerous/toxic/flammable
▪ Danger: highly flammable materials!
highly skilled/educated/ trained/intelligent
▪ Our engineers are highly skilled and very difficult to replace when they leave.
highly likely/unlikely/probable/doubtful/suspicious
▪ I think it’s highly unlikely that Bob had anything to do with the theft.
highly successful/productive
▪ She arrived in Australia as a refugee, but went on to become a highly successful lawyer.
▷ deeply /ˈdiːpli/ [adverb]
use this to describe very strong or very sincere feelings :
▪ We are all deeply saddened by Bill’s sudden death.
▪ The ceremony was short but deeply moving.
▪ Senator McCain is deeply committed to campaign finance reform.
▪ I want you to know how deeply grateful I am for everything you’ve done for me.
▪ Local residents are deeply concerned about the threat to health posed by the power station.
▷ real /rɪəl/ [adverb] American spoken
very :
▪ I think it was real sweet that she called me herself.
▪ The sidewalk was real wet and slippery.
▪ He got up real close to the bear and took a picture.
▷ so /səʊ/ [adverb]
use this to emphasize how you feel about something :
▪ It all happened so fast.
▪ You’ve been so kind. I hope I can repay you some day.
▪ The dresses were lovely, and the colours were so pretty.
▪ That puppy is so cute!
▷ one /wʌn/ [determiner] especially American, spoken
use this to emphasize a description of someone or something :
▪ She’s one crazy lady!
▪ That’s one fancy car you’ve got there.
▷ decidedly /dɪˈsaɪdɪdli, dɪˈsaɪdədli/ [adjective]
definitely or in a way that is easily noticed :
▪ The weather had turned decidedly chilly.
▪ The play has received decidedly negative reviews.
▷ quite /kwaɪt/ [adverb] especially British
use this with words that mean ‘excellent’ :
▪ Thank you, Gloria. That meal was quite delicious!
▪ The concert was quite wonderful. I’m sorry you couldn’t make it.
2. extremely
▷ extremely /ɪkˈstriːmli/ [adverb] especially written
use this when you want to use a stronger word than ‘very’ :
▪ The conference was extremely badly organized.
▪ The fungus is extremely difficult to get rid of.
▪ Regular visits to the doctor are extremely important for pregnant mothers.
▷ absolutely /ˈæbsəluːtli, ˌæbsəˈluːtli/ [adverb]
as much as it is possible to imagine - use this to emphasize adjectives that already have a strong meaning :
absolutely marvellous/wonderful/delicious etc
▪ We had an absolutely marvellous day.
▪ The costumes were absolutely stunning.
absolutely filthy/disgusting/awful etc
▪ When they came in from the yard, they were absolutely filthy.
absolutely terrified/exhausted/delighted/furious etc
▪ She stood in the middle of the stage looking absolutely terrified.
absolutely necessary/essential
▪ Don’t call me unless it’s absolutely necessary.
▷ awfully/terribly/terrifically /ˈɔːf ə li, ˈterə̇bli, təˈrɪfɪkli/ [adverb] spoken
extremely :
▪ Our Internet connection is awfully slow today.
▪ He’s been terribly ill for the last two weeks.
▪ The plot is terrifically complicated and difficult to follow.
▪ That box looks awfully heavy - are you sure you don’t need any help?
▷ very, very /ˈveri veri/ [adverb] spoken
say this when you want to emphasize ‘very’ :
▪ I’m very, very angry with her.
▪ This is a very, very important decision - please give it your full attention.
▪ We’ve been working on this deal for a very, very long time.
▷ incredibly/unbelievably /ɪnˈkredɪbli, ɪnˈkredəbli, ˌʌnbə̇ˈliːvəbli/ [adverb]
use this when something is so good, so bad, so fast etc that you are surprised by it or you find it hard to believe :
▪ Everyone in the company works incredibly hard.
▪ Their house is incredibly cold - I don’t think they heat it at all.
▪ What they did was unbelievably stupid.
▪ The apartment is unbelievably cheap - there must be something wrong with it.
▷ ridiculously /rɪˈdɪkjɑləsli/ [adverb]
use this to emphasize how unreasonable or stupid something is :
▪ The questions seemed ridiculously easy.
▪ The amount they offered for the car was ridiculously low.
▷ enormously/hugely /ɪˈnɔːʳməsli, ˈhjuːdʒli/ [adverb]
use this especially to emphasize how popular, successful, or powerful someone or something is :
▪ Barry’s novels have been hugely successful.
▪ ‘The Wizard of Oz’ remains enormously popular with children.
▪ Davis plays an enormously influential role in city politics.
▷ dreadfully /ˈdredf ə li/ [adverb] British
use this to emphasize how bad something is, or how sad or unhappy someone is :
▪ You must be dreadfully disappointed!
▪ Dreadfully overcrowded trains and frequent cancellations made commuting an ordeal.
▷ remarkably/exceptionally /rɪˈmɑːʳkəbli, ɪkˈsepʃ ə nəli/ [adverb]
use this to emphasize how unusual, impressive, or surprising something is :
▪ Mills’ predictions turned out to be remarkably accurate.
▪ The old documents are remarkably well preserved.
▪ Nadine’s daughter has an exceptionally fine singing voice.
▪ The heavy soil of the delta produces exceptionally high yields of rice and millet.