terribly
Americanadverb
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in a terrible manner
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(intensifier)
you're terribly kind
Usage
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.
Etymology
Origin of terribly
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.
"He was, I thought, quite handsome, he was tall, he was terribly well educated, and he knew a lot about a lot," said the 56-year-old.
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
He looked to what he saw as a virtue, and wasn’t terribly interested in what cultivating it cost.
From Slate ● Jul. 10, 2026
The guys at the hardware store looked at me funny when I asked which grass seed was quality, but I think it makes me sound smarter, or at least terribly pretentious.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
And of course the dipping chocolate, thick and hot, not terribly sweet, but brooding and smoky.
From Salon ● Jun. 23, 2026
“But we’re stuck somehow. There’s a terribly strong pull...”
From "The Book of Three" by Lloyd Alexander
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.
