chronically

IPA/ˈkrɒnɪkli/
KK[krˈɑnɪkəli]IPA/ˈkrɑːnɪkli/

chronically — adverb

1. used when something bad has been happening for an extremely long time and seems

1.adverbB2
Definition

used when something bad has been happening for an extremely long time and seems impossible to stop or fully fix.

Example

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

Common collocations
  • chronically ill
  • chronically underfunded
  • chronically understaffed
  • chronically homeless
  • chronically short of
  • chronically inflamed
  • chronically depressed
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • temporarily

    opposite time frame — a short, limited duration rather than a long one

  • briefly

    describes something that lasts a short time

Grammar Patterns

chronically + adjective

chronically + past participle

chronically + short of + noun

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

He was chronically late to work this week.
He was constantly late to work this week.
chronically requires a long time frame (months or years), not a single week.
They have been chronically happy together.
They have been consistently happy together.
chronically is used for negative conditions, not positive ones.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four of these adverbs describe something happening over time, but they differ in time frame and connotation. Chronically is the strongest for long-term, difficult-to-solve problems — especially in medical contexts ('chronically ill') or systemic issues ('chronically underfunded'). Persistently is more neutral and simply emphasizes stubborn continuation ('the dog barked persistently'). Continually suggests repeated occurrences with possible breaks ('the phone rang continually throughout dinner'). Constantly implies uninterrupted continuity and can apply to short spans ('he checked his phone constantly during the movie'). Repeatedly only means 'many times' without specifying duration. Unlike the others, chronically always implies a long-term, negative condition that resists change.

persistentlycontinually ↗constantly ↗repeatedly ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • chronically ill patients
  • chronically homeless population
  • chronically underfunded system

Adverbs

  • more chronically
  • most chronically

Phrases

  • chronically short of
  • chronically in need of

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Comes from the Greek word 'chronos' (χρόνος), meaning 'time'. In ancient Greek, 'chronikos' referred to something related to time. Latin adopted it as 'chronicus', which passed into English as 'chronic' (relating to long-lasting illness) by the 1600s. The adverb form 'chronically' was formed by adding the suffix '-ally' to 'chronic'.