Word
slightly
To a small degree; a little.
Meanings
To a small extent or degree; a little.
Definition
When you do something slightly, it means you do it only a small amount, not a lot. It suggests a minor change or a small difference. You can use it to make a statement less strong or more moderate.
Examples
- The door was slightly ajar, letting a sliver of light into the dark room.
- She smiled slightly, acknowledging their compliment with a shy nod.
- My coffee is slightly too hot; I'll wait a moment before drinking it.
- He felt slightly nervous before his presentation, but he did very well.
- The color of the walls needs to be adjusted slightly to match the new furniture.
Common mistake
A common mistake is to confuse "slightly" with "lightly"; "lightly" means gently or with little weight, whereas "slightly" means to a small degree.
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More adverbs
- farther Farther means at a greater physical distance than something else.
- further Further means at a greater distance or to a greater degree, or it refers to additional things.
- literally Literally means “in the exact, real sense,” not figuratively or as an exaggeration.
- figuratively Figuratively means in a non-literal way, using a metaphor or image to express an idea.
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