incredibly
ihng-KREH-dihb-lee
Incredibly (adv) means to an extreme or surprising degree. Example: “The view from the top of the mountain was incredibly beautiful.”
adv
1
To an extreme or surprising degree.
"The view from the top of the mountain was incredibly beautiful."
"The exam was incredibly difficult this year."
"He was incredibly kind to the new employees."
2
Used to introduce a surprising fact that is nevertheless true.
"Incredibly, our little team beat the favourites in the final match."
"The test looked impossible, but, incredibly, every student passed it."
"Incredibly, she finished the marathon despite a sprained ankle."
How to use incredibly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishExtremely, or "hard as it may be to believe."
Common pairings
incredibly difficult
incredibly hard
incredibly, she...
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more incredibly
- Superlative
- most incredibly
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The view from the top of the mountain was _____ beautiful.
Etymology
From incredible plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.
Synonyms
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extremely
remarkably
exceptionally
astonishingly
amazingly
extraordinarily
implausibly
improbably
fantastically
fabulously
unbelievably
Antonyms
Related words
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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