expressly

/ɪkˈspresli/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪkˈspresli/ (ame, ipa) · /ik-ˈspres-lē/ (ame, mw)

expressly — adverb

1. if you say or write something expressly, you put it in plain words so no one can

1.副詞C1
釋義

if you say or write something expressly, you put it in plain words so no one can misunderstand or argue later about what was meant.

例句

The rental agreement Ziad signed expressly forbids keeping pets in the apartment.

expressly + forbids (common legal/contract collocation)

Lien expressly told the babysitter that the children must not eat sweets before dinner.

expressly told (someone) that + clause

同義詞
  • explicitly

    near-synonym; slightly less formal and used in a wider range of contexts.

  • plainly

    more everyday register; emphasises that no one could mishear or misread.

  • unambiguously

    stresses the absence of any second possible reading; legal or academic tone.

反義詞
  • implicitly

    suggests something is understood without being stated openly.

  • vaguely

    the speaker leaves the meaning unclear, on purpose or by accident.

文法句型

expressly + past participle (forbid, state, agree, mention)

expressly + finite verb (says, warns, denies)

用法筆記

Frequently passive (be expressly forbidden / stated / agreed) and frequently paired with verbs of speaking, writing, or rule-making. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about HOW something is said (plainly, without room for doubt), while sense 2 is about WHY something is done (for one particular purpose).

常見錯誤

❌The sky was expressly blue today.
✅The sky was a very deep blue today.
💡'expressly' modifies acts of speaking, writing, or doing on purpose; it does not mean 'extremely'.
❌He spoke expressly slowly so the children could follow.
✅He spoke very slowly so the children could follow.
💡'expressly' is not a general intensifier; use 'very' or 'particularly' for that meaning.

2. if something is done or made expressly for a reason, it is done or made with tha

2.副詞C1
釋義

if something is done or made expressly for a reason, it is done or made with that single reason in mind and no other.

例句

Cole bought a small van expressly for moving art between his two studios.

bought X expressly for + gerund/noun (single purpose)

The room above the bakery was built expressly to store flour at a steady temperature.

built expressly to + verb (purpose infinitive)

同義詞
  • specifically

    interchangeable in many cases; slightly less formal.

  • particularly

    weaker — points to one item among others rather than one sole purpose.

  • purposely

    stresses the intentional act; less tied to a single end-use than 'expressly'.

反義詞
  • incidentally

    the purpose was secondary or accidental, not planned.

文法句型

expressly + past participle (built, designed, made, intended)

expressly + for + noun phrase

用法筆記

Subject is usually a deliberate creation, purchase, journey, or design — something brought into being with one specific aim. Often passive: 'was built / designed / made expressly for…'. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on the SINGLE PURPOSE behind an action, not the CLARITY of a statement.

常見錯誤

❌I came expressly because I was bored.
✅I came especially because I was bored.
💡'expressly' implies a single, deliberate purpose, not a vague reason; use 'especially' for general emphasis.
❌The cake tasted expressly good.
✅The cake tasted especially good.
💡'expressly' does not modify adjectives meaning 'to a high degree'; choose 'especially' or 'particularly'.