terribly

[ter-uh-blee]

adverb

1. in a terrible manner.

2. Informal.,  extremely; very.

   It's terribly late. I'm terribly sorry.

ˈterribly

/ ˈtɛrəblɪ /

adverb

1. in a terrible manner

2. (intensifier)

   you're terribly kind

Word History and Origins

Origin of terribly¹

First recorded in 1520–30; terrible + -ly

Example Sentences

"It would be terribly powerful if the government was talking up older people," she said.

Read more on BBC

“I felt bad. I felt terribly bad,” he said, adding that apologizing to fellow stars felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Mr Goldsmith said: "I spoke to her every day for 45 years, she truly had my back and we loved each other very much. I will miss her terribly."

Read more on BBC

I’m not sure there’s anything terribly strange about trying to learn from them.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

And like Tate, I knew it was coming, and I had this wonderful but terribly sad chance to say all the things to her that I wanted to say before she was gone.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• awfully 
• badly 
• decidedly 
• desperately 
• dreadfully 
• exceedingly 
• extremely 
• greatly 
• highly 
• horribly 
• intensely 
• mightily 
• notoriously 
• remarkably 
• seriously 
• thoroughly 
• unbelievably 

When To Use

What does terribly mean?

Terribly means in a way that’s terrible—awfully, horribly, or extremely bad.The adjective terrible has a few different meanings, but the adverb form terribly is usually based on its sense meaning extremely bad or horrible, as in I did terribly on that test or The children behaved terribly this morning.Terribly is also commonly used to mean very or extremely, as in We’re terribly sorry. When used this way, it’s an intensifier—a word used to strengthen or emphasize the word it modifies.This sense of the word is commonly used in negative constructions, such as not terribly exciting, which means the same thing as not very exciting.Example: I’m not terribly interested in going on a trip with Jeff, especially since I’ve heard he drives terribly.