dreadfully

/ˈdredfəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdredfəli/ (ame, ipa) · /-f(ə)lē -li/ (ame, mw)

dreadfully — adverb

1. used before an adjective or past participle to make it much stronger, often in a

1.副詞B2
釋義

used before an adjective or past participle to make it much stronger, often in a slightly old-fashioned or British style

例句

Nia felt dreadfully sorry after she stepped on the kitten's tail.

dreadfully sorry - strong apologetic phrase

The hotel room was dreadfully small, so Cyrus kept tripping over his bags.

dreadfully + adjective for strong emphasis

同義詞
  • terribly

    very close in meaning, but a little more common in modern everyday English

  • awfully

    similarly emotional and informal, especially in speech

  • extremely

    more neutral and more suitable in formal writing

  • very

    weaker and more general, without the old-fashioned tone

反義詞

文法句型

dreadfully + adjective

dreadfully + past participle

用法筆記

Usually placed directly before the adjective it strengthens. This sense is especially common in British English and can sound slightly old-fashioned or literary compared with "very" or "extremely". It is most natural with negative, worrying, or apologetic ideas such as "sorry", "late", "cold", or "pale".

常見錯誤

❌The room was small dreadfully.
✅The room was dreadfully small.
💡As an intensifier, 'dreadfully' goes before the adjective it strengthens.
❌The exam was dreadfully easy.
✅The exam was very easy.' or 'The exam was extremely easy.
💡'Dreadfully' sounds more natural with negative or worrying qualities than with straightforward praise.

2. in a very bad or very unskilful way, so that the result is poor or people are tr

2.副詞B2
釋義

in a very bad or very unskilful way, so that the result is poor or people are treated badly

例句

The choir sang dreadfully at the town concert, missing every high note.

verb + dreadfully for poor performance

Saira handled the interview dreadfully and forgot the company's name.

handled something dreadfully - poor performance

同義詞
  • terribly

    the closest everyday alternative for doing something very badly

  • badly

    more neutral and much more common, but less forceful

  • awfully

    can also mean very badly, though it often works as an intensifier instead

反義詞
  • well

    the general opposite for doing something successfully

  • beautifully

    the opposite when something is done with great skill or care

文法句型

verb + dreadfully

用法筆記

This sense answers the question "how?" and usually comes after the verb or after a passive verb phrase, as in "sang dreadfully" or "was treated dreadfully". Distinguish it from sense 1, which increases the strength of an adjective rather than describing the manner of an action.

常見錯誤

❌He dreadfully sang in the final round.
✅He sang dreadfully in the final round.
💡Manner adverbs usually come after the verb, not before it.
❌The service was dreadfully.
✅The service was dreadful.' or 'The staff behaved dreadfully.
💡Use the adjective after 'be', not the adverb by itself.