English Reference
Adverb

dramatically

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US /dɹəˈmætɪkəɫi/ UK /dɹəmˈætɪkli/ dra·mat·i·cal·ly

adv.in a way that is very sudden, surprising, or easy to see. You use this to describe a big change that happens quickly.

adv.in a manner that is striking, sudden, or highly visible. Often used to modify verbs of change or adjectives of scale to emphasize a significant shift.


SIMPLE

The price of gas dropped dramatically this morning.

CONTEXTUAL

The landscape changed dramatically as the train climbed higher into the snowy mountains.

COMPLEX

Technological advancements have dramatically altered the way we communicate, rendering traditional postal services nearly obsolete for personal correspondence.

Usage

Commonly modifies verbs of change like 'increase', 'decrease', 'improve', or 'alter'.

Pitfall
The prices increased dramatic.The prices increased dramatically.

Learners often use the adjective form instead of the adverb to modify a verb.

Usage dramatically different · dramatically since · dramatically improve

Working with researchers at UCLA, they combined their approach with machine learning to dramatically expand the system's field of view.

Phys.org· 17 Aug 2026

As the sweat evaporates, it dramatically increases the heat lost from the skin.

BBC News· 22 Jun 2026

Common in science writing


From dramatic + -ally.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated