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 fly problem was first reported in 2018 but residents claim pest control measures haven't worked and the flies return in hot weather, particularly during the current heatwaves.
From BBC • Jul. 7, 2026
Back in Turkey, Trump seemed particularly touched by what he said was having a "building named after me" at Ankara airport.
From Barron's • Jul. 7, 2026
It is understandable that you have questions about your parents’ guardianship, probate and inheritance, particularly given how excluded you felt.
From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026
With more people taking GLP-1 weight-loss treatments, food companies face both an opportunity and a looming threat, particularly for snacking categories that have long relied on high-calorie tastes.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
JB held out his hands apologetically, a particularly pitiful gesture with his wrists bound.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
