sparingly

/ˈspeərɪŋli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsperɪŋli/ (ame, ipa)

sparingly — 副詞

1. if you use something sparingly, you take just a small quantity each time so that

1.副詞B2
釋義

節約；少量

每次只用一點，以免浪費、能用得久

if you use something sparingly, you take just a small quantity each time so that nothing is wasted and your supply lasts a long time

例句

Christopher spread the butter sparingly because only one small block was left.

Christopher 把奶油塗得很省，因為只剩下一小塊了。

use + object + sparingly when supply is limited

During the drought, the whole village used water sparingly to make it last.

乾旱期間，整個村子都省著用水，好讓水能撐久一點。

collocation: use water / fuel sparingly

同義詞
  • frugally

    stresses saving money in particular

  • economically

    more neutral, often about efficient use of resources

  • moderately

    about keeping an amount reasonable, not specifically about avoiding waste

反義詞
  • lavishly

    using a large, generous amount

  • freely

    without holding back or limiting the amount

文法句型

use / apply / add + something + sparingly

用法筆記

Object is usually a limited or valuable resource — money, food, water, fuel, salt, paint — that the speaker wants to stretch out. Often paired with verbs of consuming or applying (use, spend, apply, add, spread).

常見錯誤

❌She used the medicine sparingly across the whole town.
✅She used the medicine sparingly so it would last for weeks.
💡sparingly is about using a small amount over time, not about spreading it across a wide area.