significantly

/sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli/ (bre, ipa) · /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli/ (ame, ipa) · /sig-ˈni-fi-kənt-lē/ (ame, mw)

significantly — adverb

1. to a degree that is large enough to be noticed or to have a clear effect on a si

1.副詞B2
釋義

to a degree that is large enough to be noticed or to have a clear effect on a situation, especially when comparing things or measuring change over time

例句

The new software runs significantly faster than the old version.

collocation: significantly + comparative (faster)

Profits have increased significantly since the company changed its strategy.

collocation: significantly + verb of change (increased)

同義詞
  • considerably

    similar degree, slightly more formal — 'considerably higher'

  • substantially

    stronger emphasis on the size of the difference — 'substantially reduced'

  • markedly

    focuses on how clearly the difference stands out — 'markedly different'

  • noticeably

    focuses on the difference being visible or perceptible — 'noticeably warmer'

反義詞
  • slightly

    small degree of difference — 'slightly better'

  • marginally

    very small degree — 'marginally higher'

文法句型

significantly + comparative adjective

significantly + verb of change (increase, reduce, improve)

用法筆記

Most naturally used with comparative adjectives (significantly better, significantly higher) and verbs of measurable change (significantly improve, significantly reduce, significantly affect). Rarely used with base adjectives — 'significantly big' sounds unnatural.

常見錯誤

❌The temperature is significantly hot today.
✅The temperature is significantly hotter than yesterday.
💡'significantly' pairs with comparative forms, not base adjectives.
❌She runs significantly fast.
✅She runs significantly faster than before.
💡Use a clear point of comparison to make the degree meaningful.

2. used when a look, a pause, a gesture, or the tone of someone's words carries ext

2.副詞C1
釋義

used when a look, a pause, a gesture, or the tone of someone's words carries extra meaning beyond what is said openly — often a meaning shared by only some of the people present

例句

When the teacher mentioned the test, Gita looked significantly at her friend.

collocation: looked significantly at someone

Eitan paused significantly before answering the question, making everyone lean forward.

collocation: paused significantly

同義詞
  • meaningfully

    most direct synonym, interchangeable in most contexts — 'looked meaningfully at'

  • knowingly

    suggests shared understanding or inside knowledge — 'grinned knowingly'

  • expressively

    focuses on conveying emotion or attitude through expression — 'raised an eyebrow expressively'

文法句型

significantly + verb of expression (look, pause, smile, nod, add)

用法筆記

Typically appears with verbs of communication — look, pause, smile, nod, add, say, raise (an eyebrow) — where the speaker or writer intends to convey extra meaning beyond the literal words. The hidden meaning is usually clear to certain people in the context but not to everyone.

常見錯誤

❌She smiled significantly at the joke.
✅She smiled significantly when her friend mentioned the surprise party.
💡The significant smile must convey a shared secret or extra meaning, not just a reaction.