es ‧ pe ‧ cial ‧ ly S1 W1 /ɪˈspeʃ ə li/ BrE AmE adverb
1 . [sentence adverb] used to emphasize that something is more important or happens more with one particular thing than with others SYN particularly :
I never liked long walks, especially in winter.
Art books are expensive to produce, especially if they contain colour illustrations.
2 . [+ adjective/adverb] to a particularly high degree or much more than usual SYN particularly :
I was especially fond of chocolate biscuits.
Feedback is especially important in learning skills.
A depreciation of the dollar would make US exports cheaper and especially so in Japan.
Graphics are especially well handled in the book.
3 . for a particular person, purpose etc
especially for
She bought a new pair of trainers especially for the trip.
4 . not especially not very, or not very much:
Accidents aren’t especially common, but you never know.
He didn’t especially want to learn to dance.
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GRAMMAR
Do not use especially before the subject of a sentence to emphasize it. Put especially after the subject:
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Older voters especially (NOT Especially older voters) are concerned about crime.
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THESAURUS
▪ especially/particularly used when you want to emphasize that something concerns or affects one person or thing more than others, or is true about a particular situation more than others:
This disease mostly affects women, particularly older women.
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Paris is always full of tourists, especially in the summer.
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It’s not easy to receive compliments, especially if you’re not used to them.
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The surface is very slippery, particularly when it has been raining.
▪ specially spoken especially:
I like parks, specially when they’ve got lakes.
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You have to be careful what you say, specially if there are children listening.
▪ in particular especially – used before or after a noun. Often used in the phrases anyone/anything/anywhere in particular and someone/something/somewhere in particular :
Mary loves most classical music, in particular Bach and Vivaldi.
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Kids in particular will love this show.
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Is there anything in particular you would like to eat?
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Was there someone in particular you were hoping to meet?
▪ notably formal used for saying someone or something is an important example of what you are talking about:
The use of illegal drugs – notably marijuana – has increased in recent years.
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A number of respected philosophers, most notably Leibniz, criticized Newton’s theories.
▪ above all used for emphasizing that something is more important than all the other things you have mentioned:
Get plenty of sleep, eat lots of good food, and above all try to relax.
▪ most of all more than anything or anyone else:
Swimming and soccer are fun, but I like dancing most of all.
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Out of everybody at school she was the person who helped me most of all.