partly
Americanadverb
adverb
Usage
Partly and partially are to some extent interchangeable, but partly should be used when referring to a part or parts of something: the building is partly (not partially ) of stone, while partially is preferred for the meaning to some extent: his mother is partially (not partly ) sighted
Etymology
Origin of partly
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.
Some suppliers have prepared manufacturing capacity in Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries for Tesla, partly to avoid U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods, the people said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Gold futures are down 14% from pre-Iran levels to just over $4,600, partly due to investors seeking safety in the US dollar.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
Retail sales rose 0.6% in February, the government said Wednesday, partly fueled by annual tax refunds.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026
This ambiguity is, at least partly, by design.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
The descent into the underground lair took longer than I thought it would, partly because the curving staircase was covered in invisible booby traps.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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.
