English Reference
Adverb

academically

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌækəˈdɛmɪkɫi/ UK /ˌækədˈɛmɪkli/ aca·dem·i·cal·ly

adv.in a way that relates to school, university, or serious study. You use this when talking about someone's grades or their success in learning.

adv.in a manner relating to educational or scholarly performance and standards. Often modifies adjectives or verbs to specify the domain of achievement or focus.


SIMPLE

She is doing very well academically this year.

CONTEXTUAL

The scholarship is awarded to students who are academically gifted but lack the financial means to attend university.

COMPLEX

While the student struggled socially during his first semester, he remained academically rigorous, consistently producing research that exceeded the expectations of his professors.

Usage

Typically follows the verb it modifies or precedes an adjective.

Pitfall
He is an academically studentHe is an academic student

Learners often use the adverb form where the adjective 'academic' is required to modify a noun.

In my view, grade floors and the new South Carolina ban both treat the symptom, which is students struggling academically, without addressing the cause of the problem.

The Conversation· 20 Jul 2026

I’m seeking to answer a critical question: After 27 years of school choice, has Florida shown that using public funds for private education helps students achieve better results academically?

The Conversation· 6 Jul 2026

From academical + -ly or academic + -ally.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated