perfectly
PUR-fihk-lee
Perfectly (adv) means In a flawless or ideal way. Example: “The dress fit her perfectly.”
adv
1
In a flawless or ideal way.
"The dress fit her perfectly."
"The pianist played the piece perfectly, without a single wrong note."
"The cake was baked perfectly, golden outside and soft inside."
2
Completely; entirely (used for emphasis).
"I'm perfectly happy to wait here."
"You are perfectly entitled to ask for your money back."
"It is perfectly clear to me that nobody was listening."
How to use perfectly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "in a flawless way" or, more loosely, "completely" for emphasis.
Common pairings
perfectly fine
perfectly clear
perfectly happy
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more perfectly
- Superlative
- most perfectly
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The dress fit her _____.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for perfectly
See all rhymes for perfectly →Frequently asked questions
What does “perfectly” mean?
The word “perfectly” means in a flawless or ideal way. In plain terms, either "in a flawless way" or, more loosely, "completely" for emphasis.
How do you pronounce “perfectly”?
“Perfectly” is pronounced PUR-fihk-lee (/ˈpɝ.fɪk(t).li/ in IPA).
How do you use “perfectly” in a sentence?
Here is “perfectly” used in a sentence: “The dress fit her perfectly.”
What part of speech is “perfectly”?
“Perfectly” is an adverb.
Is “perfectly” a common word?
“Perfectly” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “perfectly” have?
“Perfectly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a flawless or ideal way.
What is the difference between the two meanings of perfectly?
"Perfectly" has two everyday uses. One means flawlessly — done without any fault, as in "she sang it perfectly." The other is an intensifier meaning completely or thoroughly, as in "that's perfectly normal" or "I'm perfectly happy." Only the first sense is about perfection; the second simply strengthens the word after it.
What is the difference between perfectly and completely?
When "perfectly" means flawlessly, it differs sharply from "completely." But as an intensifier — "perfectly clear," "completely clear" — the two nearly match, both meaning fully or entirely. So they overlap only in that emphasising sense; when perfection or faultlessness is meant, "completely" cannot replace it.
What is an example of perfectly meaning flawlessly?
"The parts fitted together perfectly" shows the flawless sense — with no gap or fault at all. So does "she performed the routine perfectly," meaning without a single mistake. In each case, "perfectly" describes something done to an ideal standard, exactly as it should be, with nothing to correct.
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