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slightly — to a small degree; not very much

Part of speech: ADVERB

Definition: to a small degree; not very much

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈslaɪtli/

Example Sentences

  • My coffee is slightly too hot - I need to wait for it to cool down a bit.
  • He's slightly taller than me, but I'm slightly better looking.
  • The painting is hanging slightly crooked - it's driving me crazy!

slightly

ADVERB

[/ˈslaɪtli/]

to a small degree; not very much

She tilted her head slightly to hear the whisper.
💡 Concept

She tilted her head slightly to hear the whisper.

Hold tightly, shine brightly, then loosen slightly.
🎵 Rhyme

Hold tightly, shine brightly, then loosen slightly.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈslaɪtli/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈslaɪtli/

🌳Etymology

Rootslight
Suffix--ly

Origin

From Middle English 'slight' meaning slender or thin, derived from Old Norse 'sléttr' meaning smooth or sleek. The adverbial suffix '-ly' was added to create the adverb form.

Breakdown

slight (small in degree) + -ly (adverb suffix meaning 'in a manner of') = slightly

🎵Rhyme

rightly
brightly
tightly

🔗Collocations

slightly different
slightly higher
slightly better
slightly worried
slightly increase
slightly tilted

📝Examples

“My coffee is slightly too hot - I need to wait for it to cool down a bit.”

😄 Fun example

“He's slightly taller than me, but I'm slightly better looking.”

😄 Fun example

“The painting is hanging slightly crooked - it's driving me crazy!”

“Sales figures were slightly below expectations this quarter.”

📚Related Words

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