profusely
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of profusely
Explanation
Profusely is another way of saying "excessively." If you sweat profusely whenever your crush walks into a room, you might reconsider your ban on deodorant before asking him out. Profuse is an adjective meaning, basically, "a lot." Add the -ly and there's the adverb profusely, used to describe something that's giving off a lot — of blood, sweat, and tears for example. You might bleed profusely after you cut your thumb and cry profusely when your sweetie doesn't even offer you a Band-Aid. Other words with similar meanings include abundantly, extravagantly, lavishly, and richly. The French author Francois de la Rochefoucauld said, “Nothing is given so profusely as advice.”
Vocabulary lists containing profusely
"The Lottery," Vocabulary from the short story
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"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
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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.
Alary is back at work, has apologized to Macgregor and has thanked Phillips profusely for helping set him on the right path.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
They may not have reached a deal, but both thanked their hosts profusely -- especially Field Marshal Munir.
From Barron's ● Apr. 12, 2026
We were two strangers, our yoga mats a little too close together, already sweating profusely as the yoga teacher instructed us into sun salutations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 10, 2026
A few months before, RM apologised profusely after his own honest livestream about the anxiety of reuniting and returning to the stage.
From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026
A tiny, blue-skinned fairy apologized profusely when it fluttered into Meggie’s hair as she and Mo went toward the cage containing her mother and Elinor.
From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
