fantastically

IPA/fænˈtæstɪkli/
KK[fæntˈæstɪkli]IPA/fænˈtæstɪkli/

fantastically — adverb

1. in a way that shows great skill or produces a very good result

1.adverbB1
Definition

in a way that shows great skill or produces a very good result

Example

Zayd played fantastically in the championship match last Saturday, scoring the winning goal.

modifies a performance verb (played)

The new restaurant in our neighbourhood has been doing fantastically since it opened last month.

modifies a state verb (has been doing)

Common collocations
  • play fantastically
  • do fantastically
  • go fantastically
  • work fantastically
Synonyms
  • brilliantly

    very similar in meaning; more common in British English

  • superbly

    slightly more formal than fantastically

  • excellently

    more neutral in register, less emphatic

Antonyms
  • terribly

    opposite meaning — done very badly

  • poorly

    less emphatic than terribly, but also opposite in meaning

Grammar Patterns

fantastically + verb of performance or result

Usage Note

Commonly paired with verbs of performance such as play, do, sing, perform. May sound too informal for academic or formal writing.

Common Mistakes

She fantastically played the piano.
She played the piano fantastically.
In natural English, the adverb usually follows the verb phrase rather than appearing between the subject and verb.

2. used to emphasize that something has a quality to a very large or noticeable deg

2.adverbB1
Definition

used to emphasize that something has a quality to a very large or noticeable degree

Example

The price of that handbag was fantastically expensive — over three thousand dollars.

modifies an adjective describing cost (expensive)

Henrik had a fantastically clever idea, and the team tested it immediately.

modifies an adjective of quality (clever)

Common collocations
  • fantastically expensive
  • fantastically successful
  • fantastically rich
  • fantastically fast
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • slightly

    opposite in degree — to a small extent

  • barely

    opposite in degree — almost not at all

Grammar Patterns

fantastically + adjective

fantastically + past participle

Usage Note

Functions as a strong intensifier, similar to incredibly or unbelievably. Typically modifies adjectives (fantastically rich, fantastically fast) rather than verbs. Avoid in formal writing.

3. in a way that is strange, unusual, or imaginative, as if coming from a fantasy o

3.adverbB2
Definition

in a way that is strange, unusual, or imaginative, as if coming from a fantasy or dream

Example

The artist painted fantastically shaped creatures that seemed to come from old folk tales.

modifies a past participle describing appearance (shaped)

Gabriel wore a fantastically strange costume covered in bright feathers and tiny lights.

modifies an adjective of appearance (strange)

Common collocations
  • fantastically shaped
  • fantastically decorated
  • fantastically designed
Synonyms
  • bizarrely

    emphasises the strangeness more than the imaginative side

  • weirdly

    more informal than fantastically; focuses on the oddness

  • fancifully

    emphasises imagination and creativity over strangeness

Antonyms
  • plainly

    opposite — in a simple, ordinary way

  • normally

    opposite — in a regular, expected way

Grammar Patterns

fantastically + adjective describing appearance or style

fantastically + past participle of design verb

Word family

  • fantastic
    adjectiveA2
  • fantasy
    nounB1
  • fantasise
    verbB2
  • fantasist
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/2

All four words can be used as intensifiers — they make the adjective they modify sound stronger. Fantastically (sense 2) and incredibly are the most informal and common in everyday speech; they can often be swapped without changing the tone. Unbelievably adds a hint of doubt — the speaker suggests the degree is surprising or hard to accept ('The queue was unbelievably long'). Extraordinarily is the most formal option, better suited to written reports or careful speech. Exceedingly is older and less common today, appearing mostly in fixed phrases or formal British English. For a neutral intensifier in casual conversation, fantastically or incredibly are the safest choices. In an essay, extraordinarily would fit better.

incrediblyunbelievablyextraordinarilyexceedingly

Common collocations

Phrases

  • look fantastic
  • feel fantastic
  • sound fantastic

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Formed by adding the adverb suffix -ly to the adjective fantastic. Fantastic entered English in the late 1300s from Middle French fantastique, which came from Late Latin phantasticus, meaning 'imaginary.' The Latin word in turn came from Greek phantastikos ('able to imagine'), from phantazein ('to make visible'). Over time, the meaning shifted from 'existing only in the imagination' to 'extremely good' (around the 1930s), giving rise to both the intensifier and the 'extremely well' senses of fantastically.