significantly

American  

[sig-nif-i-kuhnt-lee] / sɪgˈnɪf ɪ kənt li /

adverb

1. in a way or as a fact that is important and deserves attention.

   Significantly, Australia was a nation born in peacetime, not war.

2. by a relatively great amount or to a relatively high degree.

   She seems to have grown significantly as a character—her decisions are more mature, for one thing.

3. in a way that carries special, secret, or private meaning.

   The detective looked significantly at the collection of pills on the table, but said nothing.

4. Statistics. in a way or to a degree that is unlikely to occur by chance and therefore indicates a systematic cause.

   These results show that sleep significantly affects memory organization, even in the infant brain.

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Other Word Forms

• nonsignificantly
  adverb
• supersignificantly
  adverb
• unsignificantly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of significantly

significant ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Anything that happens significantly happens in a big way. A significantly happier person has gotten much happier. Moving into a significantly bigger house means you can finally get that indoor pony. Significant things are important. When you see the word significantly, you know something is a big deal. A significantly higher tax rate would upset many people, because taxes went up a lot. A significantly lower-than-usual snowfall would upset skiers, because no one likes skiing on dry ground. A significantly timed speech happens at a time that is meaningful for some reason, like on a major holiday. This word often means the same as importantly.

Example Sentences

"While the full impact from the fuel crisis will not be seen in the statistics until July, the likelihood of lasting crisis has significantly dimmed the growth prospects for the remaining part of the year."

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

By contrast, investments in sectors deemed to be of strategic importance by governments increased significantly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026

What’s one low-impact change you and your readers have made that significantly improved something you already buy and helped reduce waste?

From MarketWatch • Jul. 7, 2026

"A test of this length is a major development and would indicate that China is moving toward a significantly more survivable and longer-range sea-based nuclear deterrent capability," he said.

From Barron's • Jul. 7, 2026

“You’ve got something coming to you!” she said significantly.

From "Mary Poppins" by P. L. Travers

Related Words

• actually
• approximately
• necessarily
• originally
• permanently
• quite
• really
• substantially
• truly
• typically
• virtually