Adverbs

 High-level adverbs commonly used in formal and advanced written English, especially in essays, articles, academic writing, and serious journalism.

Adverb

Meaning

Pronunciation

Example

Patently

clearly; obviously

PAY-tənt-lee

The argument is patently flawed.

Arguably

it can reasonably be argued

AR-gyoo-uh-blee

This is arguably the most important issue.

Undoubtedly

certainly; without doubt

un-DOW-tid-lee

She is undoubtedly one of the finest writers of her generation.

Invariably

always; without exception

in-VAIR-ee-uh-blee

Such decisions invariably have serious consequences.

Notably

importantly; particularly

NOH-tuh-blee

Notably, the study found a significant decline in unemployment.

Conversely

in the opposite way

CON-vurs-lee

Urban populations increased; conversely, rural populations declined.

Subsequently

afterward; later

SUB-si-kwent-lee

He was initially rejected but subsequently offered a position.

Predominantly

mainly; mostly

pri-DOM-uh-nənt-lee

The region is predominantly agricultural.

Considerably

by a large amount

kun-SID-er-uh-blee

The policy has considerably reduced costs.

Fundamentally

basically; at the most important level

fun-duh-MEN-tuh-lee

The two approaches are fundamentally different.

Inherently

naturally; as an essential quality

in-HEER-ənt-lee

Competition is not inherently harmful.

Explicitly

clearly and directly

ik-SPLIS-it-lee

The report explicitly rejects this assumption.

Implicitly

indirectly; without being directly stated

im-PLIS-it-lee

His argument implicitly assumes that economic growth is beneficial.

Plausibly

in a way that seems reasonable or believable

PLAW-zuh-blee

The evidence plausibly suggests that the policy was ineffective.

Substantially

considerably; to a large degree

sub-STAN-shuh-lee

The reforms have substantially improved access to education.

Profoundly

deeply; to a great degree

prə-FOUND-lee

The experience profoundly influenced his writing.

Relatively

comparatively; in relation to something else

REL-uh-tiv-lee

The country has a relatively stable economy.

Increasingly

more and more

in-KREE-sing-lee

Technology is becoming increasingly important in education.

Tentatively

cautiously; without certainty

TEN-tuh-tiv-lee

The researchers tentatively attributed the results to environmental factors.

Deliberately

intentionally; on purpose

di-LIB-er-it-lee

The author deliberately challenges conventional assumptions.

Coincidentally

by chance

koh-in-si-DEN-tuh-lee

Coincidentally, both researchers reached the same conclusion.

Presumably

probably; based on what seems likely

pri-ZOO-muh-blee

Presumably, the decision was influenced by financial concerns.

Admittedly

as is accepted or acknowledged

ad-MIT-id-lee

Admittedly, the proposal has several limitations.

Remarkably

surprisingly; unusually

ri-MARK-uh-blee

Remarkably, the project was completed ahead of schedule.

Significantly

importantly; considerably

sig-NIF-uh-kənt-lee

The results significantly challenge the existing theory.

Exceptionally

unusually; extremely

ik-SEP-shuh-nuh-lee

She demonstrated exceptionally strong analytical skills.

Intrinsically

naturally; as an essential part of something

in-TRIN-zik-lee

Education is intrinsically valuable, regardless of its economic benefits.

Inevitably

unavoidably; certainly in the end

in-EV-it-uh-blee

Rapid technological change will inevitably affect the labour market.

Conceivably

possibly; it is possible to imagine

kun-SEE-vuh-blee

The policy could conceivably produce the opposite result.

Unquestionably

certainly; beyond doubt

un-KWES-chuh-nuh-blee

The discovery was unquestionably a major scientific achievement.

 Especially useful for high-level writing

Make written English sound more sophisticated, learn these first:

arguably, notably, invariably, fundamentally, inherently, subsequently, conversely, predominantly, implicitly, explicitly, plausibly, substantially, profoundly, admittedly, presumably, inevitably.

For example:

Admittedly, the policy has certain weaknesses; nevertheless, it has substantially improved access to education.

More High Level Adverbs, 

High-Level Adverbs

Adverb

Meaning

Pronunciation

Example

Accordingly

therefore; in a way that fits the situation

uh-KOR-ding-lee

The evidence was insufficient; accordingly, the claim was rejected.

Acutely

extremely; intensely

uh-KYOOT-lee

The country is acutely aware of the problem.

Adversely

in a harmful way

AD-vurs-lee

The decision may adversely affect local communities.

Collectively

as a group; together

kuh-LEKT-iv-lee

These factors collectively contributed to the crisis.

Concurrently

at the same time

kuhn-KUR-uhnt-lee

Both studies were conducted concurrently.

Consequently

as a result

KON-si-kwent-lee

The evidence was weak; consequently, the theory was abandoned.

Crucially

in an extremely important way

KROO-shuh-lee

Crucially, the study distinguishes fact from opinion.

Disproportionately

excessively compared with others

dis-pruh-POR-shuh-nit-lee

The policy disproportionately affects poorer communities.

Effectively

successfully; in practice

ih-FEK-tiv-lee

The reform effectively reduced unemployment.

Empirically

based on observation or evidence

em-PIR-ih-klee

The theory has not been empirically tested.

Essentially

basically; fundamentally

ih-SEN-shuh-lee

The two arguments are essentially similar.

Evidently

clearly; apparently from evidence

EV-uh-dent-lee

The results evidently contradict the original hypothesis.

Exclusively

only; solely

ik-SKLOO-siv-lee

The study does not focus exclusively on economic factors.

Extensively

to a great extent

ik-STEN-siv-lee

The subject has been extensively discussed by scholars.

Henceforth

from this point onward

hens-FORTH

Henceforth, the term will be used in a narrower sense.

Inadvertently

unintentionally

in-uh-DVUR-tuhnt-lee

The policy inadvertently created additional problems.

Incessantly

without stopping

in-SES-uhnt-lee

The issue has been debated incessantly for decades.

Indisputably

in a way that cannot reasonably be disputed

in-dis-PYOO-tuh-blee

The discovery was indisputably significant.

Ironically

contrary to what is expected

eye-RON-ik-lee

Ironically, the attempt to simplify the system made it more complicated.

Largely

mostly; to a great extent

LARJ-lee

The outcome was largely determined by economic conditions.

Likewise

similarly; in the same way

LIKE-wise

The second study likewise reported significant results.

Manifestly

very clearly; plainly

MAN-uh-fest-lee

The proposal is manifestly inadequate.

Objectively

without personal bias

uhb-JEK-tiv-lee

The evidence must be assessed objectively.

Precisely

exactly; accurately

pri-SICE-lee

The author does not precisely define the concept.

Primarily

mainly

pry-MAIR-uh-lee

The research primarily examines social inequality.

Progressively

gradually; increasingly

pruh-GRES-iv-lee

The argument becomes progressively more complex.

Proportionately

according to a corresponding amount

pruh-POR-shuh-nit-lee

Resources should be distributed proportionately.

Respectively

in the same order mentioned

ri-SPEK-tiv-lee

The figures were 40% and 60%, respectively.

Simultaneously

at the same time

sye-muhl-TAY-nee-us-lee

The policy addresses social and economic problems simultaneously.

Specifically

particularly; exactly

spuh-SIF-ik-lee

The research specifically examines rural communities.

Supposedly

according to what is claimed or believed

suh-POHZ-id-lee

The reform was supposedly designed to improve equality.

Thereby

by that means; as a result

thair-BYE

The reform reduced costs, thereby improving accessibility.

Ultimately

finally; in the end

UL-tuh-mit-lee

Ultimately, success depends on effective implementation.

Uniquely

in a way unlike anything else

yoo-NEEK-lee

The novel uniquely combines history and fiction.

Undeniably

in a way that cannot be denied

un-di-NY-uh-blee

The reform has undeniably changed the institution.

Virtually

almost; nearly

VUR-choo-uh-lee

The technology has virtually transformed the industry.