terribly
Americanadverb
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in a terrible manner
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(intensifier)
you're terribly kind
Usage
What does terribly mean? Terribly means in a way that’s terrible—awfully, horribly, or extremely bad.The adjective terrible has a few different meanings, but the adverb form terribly is usually based on its sense meaning extremely bad or horrible, as in I did terribly on that test or The children behaved terribly this morning.Terribly is also commonly used to mean very or extremely, as in We’re terribly sorry. When used this way, it’s an intensifier—a word used to strengthen or emphasize the word it modifies.This sense of the word is commonly used in negative constructions, such as not terribly exciting, which means the same thing as not very exciting.Example: I’m not terribly interested in going on a trip with Jeff, especially since I’ve heard he drives terribly.
Etymology
Origin of terribly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“And no one is to be made terribly scared, either.”
From Literature
Outfielder Corbin Carroll stepped up to the plate for one of his first batting practice sessions of spring training earlier this month, took a swing and knew immediately that something was terribly wrong.
It was then she realised something was terribly wrong.
From BBC
"We have these incidents that happen which are terribly sad and they should be condemned with full force when they do happen," Itoje said.
From Barron's
We made this film about a terribly dysfunctional family, but we are actually quite functional!
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
