awfully
pronunciation
How to pronounce awfully in British English:
UK [ˈɔ:fli]
How to pronounce awfully in American English:
US [ˈɔflɪ]
-
- Adverb:
- used as intensifiers
- of a dreadful kind
- in a terrible manner
Word Origin
- awfully (adv.)
- c. 1300, "so as to inspire reverence," from awful + -ly (2). Meaning "dreadfully, so as to strike one with awe" is recorded from late 14c. As a simple intensifier, "very, exceedingly," is attested from c. 1830.
Example
- 1. Other goals , though , are awfully easy to put off .
- 2. But there is an awfully long way to go to turn back the clock .
- 3. Electronic borrowing is awfully convenient .
- 4. That was just as well : its current state is awfully precarious .
- 5. Instead , I have plenty of memories of them being awfully nice to each other and jolly lunches in london hotels .