particularly
Americanadverb
-
in a particular or to an exceptional degree; especially.
He read it with particularly great interest.
- Synonyms:
- specially, exceptionally
-
in a particular manner; specifically; individually.
-
in detail; minutely.
- Synonyms:
- scrupulously
adverb
-
very much; exceptionally
I wasn't particularly successful
-
in particular; specifically
pensioners, particularly the less well-off
Synonym Usage
See especially.
Etymology
Origin of particularly
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English. See particular, -ly
Explanation
The adverb form of "particular," the word particularly means "in a focused, precise manner." You looked for stones that had the proper qualities, particularly rounded edges and elongated shapes. Careful near the windows. The idea of particularly hails from the Lower Latin particularis, which meant "a particle," and in English took on the idea of something "pertaining to a single thing or person." Later, the word was refined to take on the idea of an exactness of detail. Journalist Ambrose Bierce applied the word as emphasis to his definition of incompatibility: "In matrimony a similarity of tastes, particularly the taste for domination."
Vocabulary lists containing particularly
Walk Two Moons
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"By Any Other Name"
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King and the Dragonflies
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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.
The rate of glacier shrinkage has been increasing globally since the 1990s and at a particularly accelerated rate since 2000, according to the European Commission's monitoring body Copernicus.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
"Announcing this decision on World Humanitarian Day, while the world honoured the courage and sacrifice of humanitarians, was particularly egregious," the joint statement added.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
Hungary’s central bank announces an interest-rate decision on Tuesday, where it could cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.50%, particularly given recent weak inflation data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
“West Nile virus can be fatal, particularly for the elderly and immunocompromised,” said State Health Officer Dr. Erica Pan.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
There is never a good time to get sick, but this is a particularly bad time.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
