adv
Uncommon
thinly
THIHN-lee
Thinly (adv) means In a thin layer or with little thickness. Example: “Slice the onions thinly for the salad.”
adv
1
In a thin layer or with little thickness.
"Slice the onions thinly for the salad."
2
Sparsely, or with little effort to hide something.
"The village is thinly populated."
"It was a thinly veiled threat."
How to use thinly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn a thin way — spread out lightly, sparsely, or barely disguised.
Common pairings
thinly sliced
thinly veiled
thinly populated
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more thinly
- Superlative
- most thinly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Slice the onions _____ for the salad.
Etymology
From thin plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
thickly
Related words
Rhymes for thinly
See all rhymes for thinly →Frequently asked questions
What does “thinly” mean?
The word “thinly” means in a thin layer or with little thickness. In plain terms, in a thin way — spread out lightly, sparsely, or barely disguised.
How do you pronounce “thinly”?
“Thinly” is pronounced THIHN-lee (/ˈθɪnli/ in IPA).
How do you use “thinly” in a sentence?
Here is “thinly” used in a sentence: “Slice the onions thinly for the salad.”
What is the opposite of “thinly”?
The opposite of “thinly” — its antonyms — is thickly.
What part of speech is “thinly”?
“Thinly” is an adverb.
Is “thinly” a common word?
“Thinly” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “thinly” have?
“Thinly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a thin layer or with little thickness.
