Word
eerily
Phoneticseeri·ly
US/ˈɪɹəɫi/
UK/ˈiəɹɪli/
Definition
adv. in a way that is very strange or frightening. You use this to describe a feeling that something is not quite right or is very quiet and empty.
adv. in a manner that is strange, unsettling, or unnatural. Often used to describe a silence or a situation that feels out of place.
Examples
“The house was eerily quiet when we arrived.”
“The forest was eerily silent, as if the wind had stopped blowing and the animals had disappeared.”
“The abandoned factory stood eerily against the bright morning sun, its rusted gates swinging in the wind like the fingers of a ghost.”
Examples
simple
“The house was eerily quiet when we arrived.”
contextual
“The forest was eerily silent, as if the wind had stopped blowing and the animals had disappeared.”
complex
“The abandoned factory stood eerily against the bright morning sun, its rusted gates swinging in the wind like the fingers of a ghost.”
Real-World Examples
“This venue, which should be an asset to Scotland, was eerily quiet.” “Historic accounts describe the hours of work, wages paid and duties given to these children but remain eerily silent on the effects these conditions had on children's bodies.” Etymology
From eerie + -ly. Compare Old English earglīċe, earhlīċe (“in a cowardly manner, timidly, fearfully”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/eerily