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Synonyms

finely

American  
[fahyn-lee] / ˈfaɪn li /

adverb

  1. in a fine manner; excellently; elegantly; delicately; nicely; minutely; subtly.

  2. in fine particles or pieces.

    finely chopped onions.
finely British  
/ ˈfaɪnlɪ /

adverb

  1. into small pieces; minutely

  2. precisely or subtly

  3. splendidly or delicately

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of finely

First recorded in 1275–1325; from Middle English word fineliche; see fine 1, -ly

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.

Physicists have long debated why the Universe's constants appear finely tuned.

From Science Daily • May 8, 2026

Their European semi-final against Atletico Madrid is finely poised before Tuesday's second leg after a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital last week.

From BBC • May 4, 2026

Then there’s “Choosin’ Texas,” which sounds surprisingly cheery—bright guitars, finely buffed harmonies—considering it’s about losing a lover to a rival.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

A handful, finely chopped — echoing the rice, but a little more integrated.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

His stomach was enormous, an incongruous attachment to an otherwise finely proportioned body.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

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.