[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/terribly/)

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# terribly

adverb

«terribly» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Terribly means very or extremely (informal): I'm terribly sorry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#m1)
2. Terribly means very badly or in a way that is awful: he sang terribly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#m2)
3. Terribly can mean in a way that causes great suffering: she was terribly hurt. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#m3)

### In the lessons

In polite British speech «terribly» is often just a strong «very»: terribly kind, terribly sorry. In stories it can show how badly something went or how much someone suffered. Phrases: terribly sorry, terribly important, went terribly wrong.

### Examples

- I'm terribly sorry for being late. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#x1)
- The plan went terribly wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#x2)
- She was terribly kind to us. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#x3)
- He played the piano terribly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#x4)
- I miss my friend terribly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#x5)
- The house was terribly damaged in the flood. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#x6)
- It's not terribly important. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#x7)
- I’m terribly afraid of the Kalidahs.” [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/#x8)

### Note

«Terribly» as «very» can go before good words too (terribly nice), which surprises learners. «Not terribly» means «not very». Spelled with double «r»: terrible → terribly.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «terribly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/T/terribly/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«terribly» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/terribly.html) on Mova free.