ENGLISH
REFERENCE

comparatively

adv.
US //kəmˈpɛɹətɪvɫi// UK //kəmpˈæɹətˌɪvli// com·par·a·tive·ly
  1. 1 relative to others (adv.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

    used to describe a quality when you compare it to something else.

    to a moderate or relative degree when measured against a standard or similar entities.

    Example

    The exam was comparatively easy compared to the difficult one we had last month.

    Example

    While the initial investment was high, the long-term maintenance costs remained comparatively low, justifying the project's budget to the board.

    Usage

    typically placed before an adjective or another adverb to modify its intensity.

    Teacher's tip

    this is a high-frequency word in academic writing; it is often used as a more formal synonym for 'relatively'.

Origin

From comparative + -ly.

Word family

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