partly
Americanadverb
adverb
Usage
Partly and partially are to some extent interchangeable, but partly should be used when referring to a part or parts of something: the building is partly (not partially ) of stone, while partially is preferred for the meaning to some extent: his mother is partially (not partly ) sighted
Etymology
Origin of partly
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.
Partly, that is because management has done some decently good things—not as good as they say they have, but objectively, they have done some decently good things.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
Partly to overcome sanctions, Iran in recent decades built a solid domestic industrial and manufacturing sector.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
Partly because she was new to L.A. and new to this.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026
Partly funded by the Welsh government, the show stars former Bafta nominee Tahar Rahim and Bafta winner Izuka Hoyle as the two leads, and features Ray Donovan star Eddie Marsan and Catherine McCormack.
From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026
Partly out of angry frustration and partly because I didn’t believe in its flesh reality.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
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.
