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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 notes

In plain EnglishIn a thin way — spread out lightly, sparsely, or barely disguised.

Common pairings
thinly sliced thinly veiled thinly populated

Word forms

more thinly comparative, most thinly superlative

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Test yourself on “thinly” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Slice the onions _____ for the salad.

Etymology

From thin plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial