essentially

/ɪˈsenʃəli/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈsenʃəli/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈsen(t)-shə-lē -ˈsench-lē/ (ame, mw)

essentially — adverb

1. used to describe the most basic or important quality of something, without focus

1.副詞B2
釋義

used to describe the most basic or important quality of something, without focusing on specific details or differences

例句

The two job offers are essentially the same, with similar pay and working hours.

collocation: 'essentially the same'

Priya was essentially arguing that the team needed more time, not more people.

同義詞
  • fundamentally

    very close in meaning; 'fundamentally' can suggest deeper, underlying principles

  • basically

    more informal and common in speech; less precise than 'essentially'

  • in essence

    the full prepositional phrase; slightly more formal

  • at heart

    idiomatic; emphasises the true character rather than appearance

反義詞
  • superficially

    opposite perspective — looking only at surface details rather than the core nature

文法句型

sentence adverb + comma + clause

be + essentially + noun phrase

essentially + the same/different/opposite

用法筆記

Frequently used as a sentence adverb at the start of a clause. It signals that the speaker is describing the core nature of a situation rather than its surface details. Common in both formal writing and everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌This film is essentially boring.
✅This film is essentially a love story set in wartime.
💡'essentially' describes fundamental nature, NOT the degree of a quality (use 'extremely' or 'very' for degree).
❌It is essentially important to arrive on time.
✅It is essentially the same procedure as last year.
💡'essentially' does not mean 'absolutely' or 'extremely'; it refers to the basic character of something.