adv
frightfully
FRYT-fuh-lee
Frightfully (adv) means In a shocking or dreadful manner. Example: “The victims were frightfully treated.”
adv
1
In a shocking or dreadful manner.
"The victims were frightfully treated."
2
Very; extremely (dated, chiefly British, often in a posh or old-fashioned tone).
"I'm frightfully sorry, I didn't catch your name."
How to use frightfully
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMostly used now as an old-fashioned British way of saying "very" ("frightfully sorry", "frightfully kind").
When to use it
Sounds dated or deliberately posh/comic in modern speech.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like frightfully.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more frightfully
- Superlative
- most frightfully
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The victims were _____ treated.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for frightfully
See all rhymes for frightfully →Frequently asked questions
What does “frightfully” mean?
The word “frightfully” means in a shocking or dreadful manner. In plain terms, mostly used now as an old-fashioned British way of saying "very" ("frightfully sorry", "frightfully kind").
How do you pronounce “frightfully”?
“Frightfully” is pronounced FRYT-fuh-lee (/ˈfɹaɪtfəli/ in IPA).
How do you use “frightfully” in a sentence?
Here is “frightfully” used in a sentence: “The victims were frightfully treated.”
What part of speech is “frightfully”?
“Frightfully” is an adverb.
How many meanings does “frightfully” have?
“Frightfully” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a shocking or dreadful manner.
