ENGLISH
REFERENCE

chronically

adv. manner
C1 Advanced US //ˈkɹɑnɪkəɫi// UK //kɹˈɒnɪkli// chron·i·cal·ly

adv. in a way that lasts for a long time or keeps coming back. It often describes a problem or an illness that does not go away.

adv. persisting over a long duration or recurring frequently. Often describes medical conditions or systemic social issues that resist resolution.


SIMPLE

The hospital is chronically short of staff.

CONTEXTUAL

Many people in the city are chronically underemployed, working multiple part-time jobs just to pay their rent.

COMPLEX

The department has been chronically underfunded for decades, leading to a slow decay of the infrastructure that now requires a massive capital injection to repair.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

Typically modifies adjectives or verbs to indicate a persistent state; frequently collocates with negative conditions like 'ill', 'short', or 'underfunded'.

Pitfall

He is chronic ill.He is chronically ill.Learners often use the adjective 'chronic' to modify another adjective, but the adverbial form 'chronically' is required.

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