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dreadfully

American  
[dred-fuh-lee] / ˈdrɛd fə li /

adverb

  1. in a dreadful way.

    The pain has increased dreadfully.

  2. very; extremely.

    Sorry to be so dreadfully late.


dreadfully British  
/ ˈdrɛdfʊlɪ /

adverb

  1. in a shocking, or disagreeable manner

  2. (intensifier)

    you're dreadfully kind

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of dreadfully

1275–1325; Middle English. See dreadful, -ly

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.

"If I wanted him DREADFULLY, and HE wouldn't do the asking, perhaps I would."

From The Story Girl by Montgomery, L. M. (Lucy Maud)

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