especially
- 01 A2 Elementary
to a greater degree than usual or more than other things.
to a great extent or degree; used to indicate that a quality applies more to one thing than to others.
Simple“The food at that restaurant is great, especially the pasta dishes.”
In context“The humidity was especially oppressive that afternoon, making even the shortest walk feel like a significant physical challenge.”
UsageOften used before an adjective or to introduce a specific example after a general statement.
PitfallI like fruit, specially apples. I like fruit, especially apples.Use 'especially' to single out one thing from a group. 'Specially' is usually for a specific purpose, like 'a cake made specially for you'.
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
used to show that something was done for one particular purpose or person.
used to single out a specific purpose, person, or occasion for which an action is performed.
Simple“I bought this gift especially for you because I know you love blue.”
In context“The software was designed especially for small businesses that lack the resources to maintain a dedicated IT department.”
UsageFrequently followed by the preposition 'for'.
Synonyms
especially vs specially — Especially means 'particularly' or 'above all', while specially means 'for a specific purpose'.
Usage especially concern · especially likely · especially regard
From especial + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.