incredibly

/ɪnˈkredəbli/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪnˈkredəbli/ (ame, ipa) · /(ˌ)in-ˈkre-də-blē/ (ame, mw)

incredibly — adverb

1. Used to show that the speaker finds what they are saying surprising or hard to a

1.副詞B2
釋義

Used to show that the speaker finds what they are saying surprising or hard to accept as real, even though they know it is true.

例句

Incredibly, Haruto managed to finish the race despite his injury.

sentence adverb at start of clause

The two paintings were almost identical — incredibly, neither artist had seen the other's work.

sentence adverb between clauses

同義詞
  • unbelievably

    more direct synonym for 'hard to believe'; less formal

  • astonishingly

    adds stronger surprise; slightly more formal

  • remarkably

    focuses on the notable quality rather than disbelief

反義詞
  • predictably

    opposite in that the outcome is expected, not surprising

文法句型

incredibly + clause (at start of sentence)

clause + incredibly + clause (in mid-sentence)

用法筆記

Sentence adverb — modifies the whole statement, not a single word. Often appears at the start of a sentence or between two clauses to express surprise at the truth of the statement.

常見錯誤

❌Incredibly, the news was false, so I was shocked.
✅Incredibly, the news was true, even though it seemed false.
💡This sense of 'incredibly' expresses surprise at something that IS true, not something that is false.
❌She is incredible kind to everyone.
✅She is incredibly kind to everyone.
💡'Incredibly' is an adverb; 'incredible' is an adjective and cannot modify an adjective.

2. To an extreme degree; used before adjectives or other adverbs to add strong emph

2.副詞B1
釋義

To an extreme degree; used before adjectives or other adverbs to add strong emphasis, without expressing disbelief.

例句

The film was incredibly boring, so Eleni left after the first hour.

intensifies an adjective

Dylan received an incredibly generous scholarship to study abroad.

同義詞
  • extremely

    direct synonym; slightly less emphatic

  • exceptionally

    suggests something stands out from the norm; more formal

  • remarkably

    suggests something is striking or notable; used in positive contexts

反義詞
  • slightly

    opposite degree; indicates a small amount

  • somewhat

    indicates a moderate, not extreme, degree

文法句型

incredibly + adjective

incredibly + adverb

用法筆記

Degree adverb — comes directly before an adjective or another adverb. Does NOT express disbelief; it is purely an intensifier, similar to 'very' but stronger. Often used with positive or negative gradable adjectives.

常見錯誤

❌She sings incredible beautifully.
✅She sings incredibly beautifully.
💡When modifying an adverb, use the adverbial form 'incredibly', not the adjective 'incredible'.
❌It is incredibly impossible.
✅It is completely impossible.
💡'Incredibly' works poorly with non-gradable or absolute adjectives like 'impossible', 'perfect', or 'unique'.