specially
0 antonyms and opposites of specially, grouped by meaning.
Adv — For a particular purpose, person, or occasion.
Etymology
From Middle English specialli, specially, equivalent to special + -ly.
Full origin of specially →Frequently asked questions
What does “specially” mean?
The word “specially” means for a particular purpose, person, or occasion. In plain terms, done for a specific reason or occasion, or used to mean "particularly.".
How do you pronounce “specially”?
“Specially” is pronounced SPEH-shuh-lee (/ˈspɛʃəli/ in IPA).
How do you use “specially” in a sentence?
Here is “specially” used in a sentence: “The cake was specially made for her birthday.”
What is another word for “specially”?
Words with a similar meaning to “specially” include for a special purpose, passing and quite.
What part of speech is “specially”?
“Specially” is an adverb.
Is “specially” a common word?
“Specially” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “specially” have?
“Specially” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: for a particular purpose, person, or occasion.
What is the difference between specially and especially?
Specially means for a particular purpose, person, or occasion: "the cake was made specially for you." Especially means above all or particularly: "I like fruit, especially mangoes." In casual speech specially often stands in for especially, but careful writing keeps the two apart.
When should you use specially instead of especially?
Use specially when something is done or created for one specific purpose, person, or occasion, typically before a past participle: specially designed, specially made, specially trained, specially commissioned. If the word could be replaced by "particularly," especially is usually the better choice.
Is "specially" just an informal form of "especially"?
In informal speech specially does often appear as a clipped form of especially, as in "I specially liked the ending," and dictionaries record this "particularly" sense. In formal writing, though, especially is preferred for that meaning, with specially reserved for the "for a particular purpose" sense.