weakly
/ˈwiːkli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwiːkli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwē-klē/ (ame, mw)
weakly — adverb
1. When you do something weakly, your body does not have enough strength to do it i
When you do something weakly, your body does not have enough strength to do it in the usual way — for example, speaking so quietly that others can barely hear you, or moving your arms and legs with great difficulty.
Tanvi smiled weakly from her hospital bed, then closed her eyes.
smiled weakly — physical frailty context
The old man pushed weakly against the heavy door, but it would not move.
Wei raised his arm weakly to call for help, but only a whisper came out.
Eshe's hand shook weakly as she tried to sign the form at the clinic.
Sivan walked weakly down the hallway, holding onto the wall for support.
- strongly
direct opposite in terms of physical power
- forcefully
implies deliberate use of strength or effort
文法句型
weakly + verb of bodily action
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person or animal recovering from illness, injury, or exhaustion. Frequently paired with verbs of voluntary physical action (smile, nod, push, raise, stand, walk).
常見錯誤
2. Acting without the strength of character needed to stand by your own choices, sa
Acting without the strength of character needed to stand by your own choices, say no to others, or defend your position against pressure or disagreement.
Gabriel weakly agreed to a plan he knew was bad, just to avoid a fight.
weakly agreed — yielding to avoid conflict
The manager weakly gave in to every demand and lost the team's respect.
Niran protested weakly when his roommate took his laptop without asking.
Brandon nodded weakly at the unfair decision, afraid to say what he thought.
Hyun surrendered weakly to his sister's demands, as he always did at home.
- spinelessly
more negative and informal; suggests contempt for the person's lack of courage
- timidly
focuses on fear rather than weakness of character
- firmly
shows strength of character and clear resolve
- assertively
implies confidently standing up for oneself
文法句型
weakly + verb of yielding/agreement
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (PHYSICALLY WEAK): this sense describes a person's reaction to social pressure or difficult decisions, not their physical condition. The verb is typically one of yielding or compliance (agree, give in, nod, accept, surrender).
常見錯誤
3. Done without good reasons or clear evidence, so that others are unlikely to be p
Done without good reasons or clear evidence, so that others are unlikely to be persuaded or to believe what is said.
Adisa argued weakly for his proposal, offering no real data to back it up.
weakly argued — lacking supporting evidence
Camille defended her position weakly during the debate, and few were convinced.
Valentina's excuse was so weakly presented that the teacher did not believe her.
Ziad tried to explain his lateness, but his story was weakly put together.
The lawyer's case rested on a weakly supported claim that the judge rejected.
- convincingly
shows that an argument is persuasive and well-supported
- persuasively
highlights the ability to win others over
文法句型
weakly + verb of argument/presentation
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person presenting a case, excuse, or argument. The verb is one of explaining, defending, or presenting. Common in formal or semi-formal contexts such as debates, court cases, or business meetings.
常見錯誤
weakly — adjective
- weaklypositive
- weakliercomparative
- weakliestsuperlative
1. Lacking physical strength, energy, or good health — used to describe a person, a
Lacking physical strength, energy, or good health — used to describe a person, animal, or part of the body that is unusually frail, often because of illness, old age, or a weak constitution.
The doctor said the weakly infant needed special care and regular feeding.
weakly infant — frail newborn requiring medical attention
Paloma was a weakly child who caught every cold that went around her class.
Christopher's weakly heart could not handle the stress of the long race.
The old dog had grown so weakly that he could no longer climb the stairs.
A weakly calf was born on the farm and needed nursing through the night.
文法句型
weakly + noun (person or animal)
用法筆記
This adjective form is now rare in modern English, surviving mostly in literary or regional use. In everyday speech, speakers prefer 'weak', 'frail', or 'sickly' instead. Distinguish from the adverb 'weakly', which is common at all levels.