adverb
Uncommon
painfully
PAYN-fuh-lee
Painfully (adverb) means In a way that shows or causes pain. Example: “She limped painfully across the room after twisting her ankle.”
adverb
1
In a way that shows or causes pain.
"She limped painfully across the room after twisting her ankle."
"He was painfully aware that everyone was staring at him."
2
To an uncomfortable or excessive degree; very.
"The meeting dragged on at a painfully slow pace."
"His jokes were painfully unfunny."
How to use painfully
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn a manner that involves or suggests pain, or as an intensifier meaning "extremely" (usually about something unpleasant).
Common pairings
painfully obvious
painfully slow
painfully aware
painfully thin
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more painfully
- Superlative
- most painfully
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She limped _____ across the room after twisting her ankle.
Etymology
From Middle English peinfully, built from painful plus the adverb ending -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for painfully
See all rhymes for painfully →Frequently asked questions
What does “painfully” mean?
The word “painfully” means in a way that shows or causes pain. In plain terms, in a manner that involves or suggests pain, or as an intensifier meaning "extremely" (usually about something unpleasant).
How do you pronounce “painfully”?
“Painfully” is pronounced PAYN-fuh-lee (/ˈpeɪnfəli/ in IPA).
How do you use “painfully” in a sentence?
Here is “painfully” used in a sentence: “She limped painfully across the room after twisting her ankle.”
What part of speech is “painfully”?
“Painfully” is an adverb.
Where does the word “painfully” come from?
The word “painfully” comes from Middle English. From Middle English peinfully, built from painful plus the adverb ending -ly.
Is “painfully” a common word?
“Painfully” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “painfully” have?
“Painfully” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a way that shows or causes pain.
