hotly

/ˈhɒtli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɑːtli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhät-lē/ (ame, mw)

hotly — adverb

1. showing strong feelings such as anger, passion, or great excitement when speakin

1.副詞B2
釋義

showing strong feelings such as anger, passion, or great excitement when speaking, denying, or reacting to something

例句

Shirin hotly denied stealing the money from her neighbour's house.

hotly denied — strong rejection of an accusation

The proposed railway project was hotly debated at the city council meeting.

passive: was hotly debated

同義詞
  • angrily

    Focuses specifically on anger; 'hotly' can also imply excitement or passion, not just anger

  • passionately

    Emphasises deep personal feeling; 'hotly' adds an edge of confrontation or tension

  • fiercely

    Suggests aggressive determination; 'hotly' can be used in a wider range of emotional responses

  • vehemently

    More formal than 'hotly'; implies very strong, forceful expression of opinion

反義詞
  • calmly

    Describes the opposite emotional tone — without anger or excitement

  • coolly

    Suggests deliberate lack of emotion, while 'hotly' implies emotional intensity

文法句型

hotly + [verb of speaking/denying/criticising]

[verb] + hotly

用法筆記

Most commonly used with verbs of speaking or reacting such as 'deny', 'debate', 'defend', 'criticise', 'argue', and 'dispute'. The adverb intensifies the emotional force of the action. Subject is typically a person or group with a strong opinion.

常見錯誤

❌She argued hot about the election results.
✅She argued hotly about the election results.
💡'hot' is an adjective; the adverb form 'hotly' is required to describe how an action is performed.
❌The issue was hot discussed in parliament.
✅The issue was hotly discussed in parliament.
💡'hotly', not 'hot', must be used as the adverb modifying the verb.

2. in a way that involves strong effort, close competition, or determined pursuit,

2.副詞B2
釋義

in a way that involves strong effort, close competition, or determined pursuit, especially when several people or groups want the same thing

例句

The two candidates hotly contested the election for the school board.

hotly contested + election — close competition

Nila was hotly pursued by reporters after winning the national science award.

passive: was hotly pursued by

同義詞
  • fiercely

    Very close in meaning; 'fiercely' adds a sense of aggression, while 'hotly' focuses on intensity of effort

  • keenly

    Suggests eagerness rather than competitive tension; 'hotly' implies more direct rivalry

  • intensely

    Broader meaning; 'hotly' specifically carries the idea of close competition or determined chase

文法句型

hotly + [verb of contesting/pursuing/competing]

[be] + hotly + [past participle + by]

用法筆記

Frequently occurs in passive constructions ('was hotly contested', 'was hotly pursued'). Commonly appears in the pattern 'hotly sought after' with the meaning 'in high demand'. The sense emphasises that the participants are close in achievement or position, not just working hard.

常見錯誤

❌The two teams hotly fought about the match.
✅The two teams hotly competed for the championship.
💡'hotly' in this sense describes competition or pursuit, not emotional arguing (covered in sense 1).
❌She hotly wanted the promotion.
✅The promotion was hotly sought after by several employees.
💡'hotly' does not modify a desire or wish directly; it modifies the action of competing or pursuing.