especially

American  

[ih-spesh-uh-lee] / ɪˈspɛʃ ə li /

adverb

1. particularly; exceptionally; markedly.

   Be especially watchful when you are out walking alone.

   I love spending time outdoors, especially on sunny days.

   Synonyms:

   mainly, notably, signally

---

especially British  

/ ɪˈspɛʃəlɪ /

adverb

1. in particular; specifically

   for everyone's sake, especially your children's

2. very much

   especially useful for vegans

---

Usage

See special.

Synonym Usage

Especially, chiefly, particularly, principally refer to those cases that seem to be significant. Especially and particularly single out the most prominent case or example (often in order to particularize a general statement): Winter is especially severe on old people. Corn grows well in the Midwest, particularly in Iowa. Chiefly and principally imply that the general statement applies to a majority of the cases in question and have a somewhat comparative force: Owls fly chiefly at night. Crime occurs principally in large cities.

Etymology

Origin of especially

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; especial + -ly

Explanation

Especially describes something that can be singled out as better or more than. An especially tall building is extremely tall. Behind many good adverbs is a good adjective; this is especially true for the word especially, which is built from the common adjective special. This means something close to particularly and can be used to describe something that is more than something else. Basketball players are especially tall. Puppies and kittens are especially cute. The President is an especially important person. If you win first place in a piccolo contest then you are especially good at playing piccolo.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

especially

“There’s more and more overlap, especially with Terafab,” Musk said, referring to a multibillion-dollar joint venture to develop and manufacture chips in Texas.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

How the “life” of Brian Kennedy Field is defined will be especially important to the case.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

A related Wall Street belief that also is unsupported by past data is that the stock market is especially volatile during August.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

She went on to be the UN rights chief, a sensitive role in which she alienated some countries, especially China, which mauled her for reporting on Beijing's alleged abuses of the country's Uyghur minority group.

From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026

“Then I’m especially sorry for your loss,” Aunt Tess pivots smoothly.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• chiefly
• exclusively
• notably
• principally
• specially
• specifically