strongly
Americanadverb
-
with great strength or force.
wind blowing strongly from the west.
-
in strong or convincing words.
We strongly urged him to go.
-
with intensity; to a high degree.
It was strongly suspected that he had been fired.
-
having a strong effect.
to taste strongly of vinegar.
-
in a firm, solid, or secure manner.
a strongly fortified hill.
Etymology
Origin of strongly
First recorded before 1000; strong ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
Explanation
The adverb strongly is useful for describing something that's done powerfully or forcefully. When a teacher speaks strongly, the class pays attention. If your parents strongly advise you not to borrow their car unless it's an emergency, they really mean it. When your friend says that she strongly dislikes roller coasters, it means she would not enjoy a surprise trip to an amusement park as a birthday present. Strongly means "with strength," and it comes from the adjective strong, with its Old English root word, strang, "physically powerful, forceful, or severe."
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.
But almost 20 years later, his ideas and legacy resonate strongly.
From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026
Known as 'expression quantitative trait loci', these switches can be thought of as volume controls that influence how strongly particular genes are activated or suppressed.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026
The other strongly performing parts of Northern Ireland farming in 2025 were dairy and egg production.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
North America sales in the second quarter were down 6.8% on a comparable basis, as incremental cost-of-living pressures hit particularly strongly in the region.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026
Afterwards some of these letters were published, although Dr. Kane’s family strongly objected.
From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock
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.
