fabulously

IPA/ˈfæbjələsli/
KK[fˈæbjuləsli]IPA/ˈfæbjələsli/

fabulously — adverb

1. to a very great degree; used before adjectives or past participles to say that a

1.adverbB2
Definition

to a very great degree; used before adjectives or past participles to say that a quality exists at a very high level — for example, somebody who is fabulously wealthy has so much money that it seems almost unbelievable.

Example

After selling her app, Tanvi became fabulously wealthy and started a foundation for girls' education.

fabulously + adjective (wealthy) — indicating extreme degree

The ten-year-old pianist performed a Chopin nocturne and the critics called her fabulously talented.

fabulously + adjective (talented) — modifying a personal quality

Common collocations
  • fabulously wealthy
  • fabulously rich
  • fabulously successful
  • fabulously talented
  • fabulously expensive
  • fabulously decorated
  • fabulously arranged
  • fabulously complex
Synonyms
  • incredibly

    more general and slightly less formal; works with both positive and neutral adjectives

  • extraordinarily

    slightly more formal; emphasises that something goes beyond the usual level

  • phenomenally

    stresses the surprising or exceptional nature of the degree

  • exceedingly

    more formal and somewhat old-fashioned; carries a tone of great intensity

Antonyms
  • slightly

    marks a very small degree, at the opposite end of the intensity scale

  • barely

    suggests the quality is present only at a minimum level

Grammar Patterns

fabulously + [adjective]

fabulously + [past participle]

Usage Note

Usually appears before adjectives that describe positive qualities (wealth, talent, beauty) or impressive scale (complex, expensive). Less common with negative adjectives.

Common Mistakes

She is a fabulous rich woman.
She is a fabulously rich woman.
use the adverb form, not the adjective, when modifying another adjective.
The party was fabulous arranged.
The party was fabulously arranged.
past participles need the adverbial form, not the adjective.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four intensifiers mean 'to a very high degree,' but they differ in tone and typical context. 'Incredibly' is the most versatile and neutral — you can use it in everyday conversation ("incredibly kind", "incredibly difficult") without sounding dramatic. 'Extraordinarily' carries a sense of being beyond the usual range ("extraordinarily tall", "extraordinarily generous") and fits well in both formal and informal writing. 'Phenomenally' suggests that the degree is surprising or eye-catching ("phenomenally successful", "phenomenally fast") and often appears in reviews or promotional language. 'Exceedingly' is the most formal and slightly old-fashioned; it appears more in literary or legal contexts than in everyday speech. For example: the film was incredibly popular (neutral), her recovery was extraordinarily fast (surprising given the circumstances), the restaurant is phenomenally busy (striking and noteworthy), and the procedure is exceedingly rare (technical or formal).

incredibly ↗extraordinarily ↗phenomenally ↗exceedingly ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • fabulously wealthy
  • fabulously rich
  • fabulously successful
  • fabulously talented
  • fabulously expensive
  • fabulously decorated
  • fabulously arranged
  • fabulously complex

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From 'fabulous' (late Middle English, from Latin 'fabulosus' meaning 'celebrated in fable'), plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The original sense was 'in a manner resembling a fable,' which softened over time to mean 'amazingly' and then 'extremely.'