substantially

American  

[suhb-stan-shuh-lee] / səbˈstæn ʃə li /

adverb

1. by an ample or considerable amount; quite a lot.

   As a professor, my workload is substantially reduced or eliminated during the summer months.

2. in a basic or essential way; fundamentally.

   The new law mandates equal pay for substantially similar work, whether at the same establishment or not.

3. in a solid or firm way; stoutly or sturdily.

   In the far north, homes take more fuel to heat and also have to be built more substantially.

4. in a corporeal or material way; physically.

   The Eucharist makes the very Person of Christ truly, really, and substantially present in the consecrated bread and wine.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsubstantially
  adverb
• supersubstantially
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of substantially

substantial ( def. ) + -ly

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Explanation

Substantially means "to a great extent." Your college fund was substantially increased by your grandfather's generous gift. What the heck, I'll throw in a quarter, too. Substantially is a good word to know any time you want to establish something's extent. It basically suggests "a large part." Your raise made your life substantially easier. The word also suggests an essential nature, as in "Nothing was substantially changed by the new law." The word carries a great deal of weight, as can be seen in this quote by Albert Einstein: "We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

substantially

Coatsworth added that "travellers should brace themselves for a sharp increase in the cost of flying unless oil prices fall substantially".

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

Although global budgets have slowed the state’s healthcare spending, Maryland hospitals are treating fewer patients and charging substantially more for each.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Children whose tumors contain this fusion have substantially lower survival rates than those without it, even when they receive intensive treatment.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

Businesses also boosted inventories substantially to replace depleted warehouses and to keep up with rising customer demand.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

Oppenheimer won the argument by insisting that without a test, “the use of the gadget over enemy territory will have to be done substantially blindly.”

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

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Related Words

• considerably
• essentially
• extensively
• heavily
• largely
• materially
• really

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