incredibly
Incredibly (adv) means to an extreme or surprising degree. Example: “The exam was incredibly difficult this year.”
How to use incredibly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely, or "hard as it may be to believe."
Word forms
more incredibly comparative, most incredibly superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The exam was _____ difficult this year.
Etymology
From incredible plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for incredibly
See all rhymes for incredibly →Frequently asked questions
What does “incredibly” mean?
The word “incredibly” means to an extreme or surprising degree. In plain terms, extremely, or "hard as it may be to believe.".
How do you pronounce “incredibly”?
“Incredibly” is pronounced ihng-KREH-dihb-lee (/ɪŋˈkɹɛdɪbli/ in IPA).
How do you use “incredibly” in a sentence?
Here is “incredibly” used in a sentence: “The exam was incredibly difficult this year.”
What is another word for “incredibly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “incredibly” include unbelievably.
What part of speech is “incredibly”?
“Incredibly” is an adverb.
Is “incredibly” a common word?
“Incredibly” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “incredibly” have?
“Incredibly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to an extreme or surprising degree.
What is the difference between incredibly and extremely?
Both are intensifiers meaning "to a very high degree," but extremely is neutral while incredibly adds a hint of surprise — literally "hard to believe." Incredibly can also comment on a whole sentence, introducing a surprising fact that is nevertheless true: "Incredibly, no one was hurt."
Is incredibly formal or informal?
As a simple intensifier ("incredibly good"), incredibly is conversational and best suited to informal contexts. In formal or academic writing, alternatives such as extremely, exceptionally, or remarkably usually read better.
What is the difference between incredibly and incredulously?
Incredibly means "to an extreme or surprising degree" and describes the thing itself: "an incredibly long wait." Incredulously describes a person's disbelieving manner: "She stared at him incredulously." A situation is incredible; a doubting person is incredulous.
Does incredibly always mean "hard to believe"?
Not in everyday use. Most of the time incredibly is simply a strong intensifier meaning "extremely," with no real suggestion of disbelief. Its literal sense survives mainly when it introduces a whole statement, as in "Incredibly, the letter arrived fifty years late."
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