partially

American  

[pahr-shuh-lee] / ˈpɑr ʃə li /

adverb

1. to some degree or in some way or aspect, but not fully or totally; incompletely.

   Season three of the sci-fi series would have taken place either partially or completely on Mars.

2. in a way that is biased or prejudiced in favor of one group, side, person, etc., over another.

   He did not judge partially, he said, but claimed to mete out justice equally to rich and poor alike.

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Other Word Forms

• nonpartially adverb
• overpartially adverb

Etymology

Origin of partially

partial ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Partially means part way, not complete. If you’ve partially completed a test when the bell rings, you better work faster to finish up next time! A part is a portion of something, not the whole thing. Similarly, the word partially refers to a part of something only. A partially brick house is not all brick. Anything that is partially true is only true to some degree, like if you tell someone you’re in a band, but really you just carry the guitars. This word means about the same as partly, and the opposite word would be wholly or entirely.

Example Sentences

Many people love Coco and other delivery robots, which partially replace traffic-clogging, exhaust-spewing delivery drivers with a more environmentally friendly alternative.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

In disbelief, he looked at a residential building that had partially collapsed.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

Mercedes-Benz car sales fell in the first quarter as strong growth in the U.S. and Europe only partially offset a hefty sales drop in China, macroeconomic uncertainties and challenging market conditions.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Beer shipments rose 1.1% amid favorable pricing, partially offset by unfavorable mix.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

The eyes were still partially opened, as they had been.

From "The River" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• moderately
• partly
• somewhat