terribly
Americanadverb
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in a terrible manner
-
(intensifier)
you're terribly kind
Usage
What does terribly mean? Terribly means in a way that’s terrible—awfully, horribly, or extremely bad.The adjective terrible has a few different meanings, but the adverb form terribly is usually based on its sense meaning extremely bad or horrible, as in I did terribly on that test or The children behaved terribly this morning.Terribly is also commonly used to mean very or extremely, as in We’re terribly sorry. When used this way, it’s an intensifier—a word used to strengthen or emphasize the word it modifies.This sense of the word is commonly used in negative constructions, such as not terribly exciting, which means the same thing as not very exciting.Example: I’m not terribly interested in going on a trip with Jeff, especially since I’ve heard he drives terribly.
Etymology
Origin of terribly
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.
I am crushed, I will miss him terribly, but I was so lucky to be his partner.
From Los Angeles Times
Baobao never returned to education, which she says makes her feel "terribly sad".
From BBC
“Thank you, Andrew. I’m so terribly sorry this all transpired.”
From Literature
“It’s hard to be happy in this world where people are being treated terribly,” a friend said to me recently.
From Los Angeles Times
"Even though I mismanaged orders terribly I was steering my own business wheel," she said.
From BBC
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.
