especially
Americanadverb
adverb
-
in particular; specifically
for everyone's sake, especially your children's
-
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
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.
Vocabulary lists containing especially
Commonly Confused Words, List 3
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Commonly Confused Words, List 6
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Commonly Confused Words, List 8
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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.
Flying can be a risk factor, especially for people with DVT, she added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
The Exeter incident is especially significant because it occurred when electrical technology was still in its infancy.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 21, 2026
It’s Hurts’ turn to receive some of that same criticism, I suppose, but what fuels it is especially disgusting.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
"This slowdown is especially notable for near-term and high-end stays," it said, drawing a parallel with a period in December 2018 when Yellow Vest street protests raged in the capital's streets.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
It was a wonder we’d never crossed paths with Ethan, especially if he visited Sandy June’s as regularly as he claimed.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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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.
