severely
pronunciation
How to pronounce severely in British English:
UK [sɪ'vɪə(r)li]
How to pronounce severely in American English:
US [sɪ'vɪrli]
-
- Adverb:
- to a severe or serious degree
- with sternness; in a severe manner
- causing great damage or hardship
Word Origin
- severely (adv.)
- 1540s, from severe + -ly (2). Colloquial sense of "excessively" attested by 1854.
Example
- 1. But the law also has been severely criticized .
- 2. All this will be a reason to judge tepco severely .
- 3. America also treats white-collar offenders more severely than other rich countries .
- 4. She nodded at the headmaster ; then she looked at professor burns severely .
- 5. Then some people told the truth , but they were all still severely punished .