English Reference
Adverb

doubly

adv. degree
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈdəbɫi/ UK /dˈʌbli/ dou·bly

adv.to a much greater degree than usual, or in two different ways. You use it when you want to emphasize that something is twice as important or serious.

adv.to twice the degree or extent; in a twofold manner. Often used to intensify an adjective when two distinct reasons for that quality exist.


SIMPLE

The new rules make the job doubly difficult.

CONTEXTUAL

Losing the final was doubly painful because it was their last game together as a team.

COMPLEX

The architect's design was doubly impressive, succeeding both as a functional public space and as a striking piece of modern art.

Usage

Typically placed before the adjective or adverb it modifies.

But the “Paul is dead” theory was doubly daft since McCartney was the picture’s creative author along with Macmillan.

The Guardian· 22 Aug 2026

From Middle English dowbly, doubli, dubli, doubeliche, equivalent to double + -ly.

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

This entry
Origin Middle English dowbly
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated