Greatly: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes

Meaning 1：to a large degree (greatly)

greatly 🔊

/ˈɡreɪtli/

adv.

It means very much, used to show that something happens to a large degree.

Illustration of greatly meaning: a stark contrast between a messy and an extremely tidy desk.

to a large degree 🔊

➕

/tuː ə lɑːrdʒ dɪˈɡriː/

adv.

It describes an action or change that is significant in magnitude or extent.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from 'great' + the adverbial suffix '-ly', meaning 'in a great manner'.

💡 Mnemonic

Great things are done greatly. It's a great + ly adverb.

📖 Example

Smartphones have greatly changed our daily lives in the past two decades. 🔊 The impact of smartphones on our everyday routines over the last twenty years has been immense.

🔗 Collocations

greatly appreciate – to value or be thankful for something very much

greatly influence – to have a major effect on someone or something

greatly increase – to make something larger in amount or size to a significant extent

🔄 Synonyms

significantly (adv.) – in a sufficiently great or important way as to be worthy of attention

substantially (adv.) – to a great or significant extent

considerably (adv.) – by a notably large amount or to a notably large extent

🚫 Antonyms

slightly (adv.) – to a small degree; not considerably

marginally (adv.) – to only a limited extent; minimally

🌱 Derivatives

greater (adj.) – comparative form of 'great'; larger or more important

greatest (adj.) – superlative form of 'great'; of the highest quality or degree

📖 Cultural Story

The adverb 'greatly' originates from Old English 'grēat' (meaning large, big) and the adverbial suffix '-liche' in Middle English. It is a staple in formal and academic English writing to emphasize the degree or scope of an action, often used in reports, evaluations, and speeches.