significantly

[sig-nif-i-kuhnt-lee]

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.

Other Word Forms

• nonsignificantly adverb
• supersignificantly adverb
• unsignificantly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of significantly¹

significant ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Fifa is also adopting a 'dynamic' pricing model for the tournament, meaning ticket prices for matches deemed high demand could be raised significantly during later sales periods.

From BBC

China has already significantly shored up trade with Pacific Island nations in recent years, and is now trying to establish diplomatic and security beachheads across the region.

From BBC

In a planning application to upgrade the facility a few months later, it was even stated the training facility fell "significantly below the Premier League and perhaps even Championship standards".

From BBC

Educating children in special schools is significantly more expensive than in mainstream settings.

From BBC

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said that since the early 2010s, the force had "significantly invested in and improved" its safeguarding capability and taken a "proactive and meticulous approach to exploring previous incidents".

From BBC

Related Words

• actually 
• approximately 
• necessarily 
• originally 
• permanently www.thesaurus.com
• quite 
• really 
• substantially 
• truly 
• typically 
• virtually