chronically
chronically — adverb
1. used when something bad has been happening for an extremely long time and seems
used when something bad has been happening for an extremely long time and seems impossible to stop or fully fix.
The regional hospital has been chronically understaffed for more than a decade.
chronically + past participle (understaffed) — common pattern
Layla has suffered from chronically inflamed sinuses since childhood.
chronically + adjective (inflamed) — medical context
Kabir described his department as chronically underfunded and overworked.
The old apartment building was chronically damp, causing mold on every wall.
Christopher has been chronically short of breath since his lung surgery.
- persistently
similar meaning but more neutral in register; less tied to medical or problem contexts
- continually
suggests repetition with possible gaps, not necessarily a single uninterrupted condition
- constantly
implies unbroken continuity; can be used for short timespans that chronically cannot
- temporarily
opposite time frame — a short, limited duration rather than a long one
- briefly
describes something that lasts a short time
文法句型
chronically + adjective
chronically + past participle
chronically + short of + noun
用法筆記
Most common before adjectives and past participles that describe problems, illnesses, or shortages. Almost always carries a negative connotation — do not use it for positive long-term situations.