What does "finely" mean?

1. (into small pieces) into very small or thin pieces. 2. (with great detail) done with great care, skill, or detail. 3. (elegantly) in a way that looks expensive, beautiful, or high-quality.

How do you use "finely"?

Commonly used with verbs like 'chop', 'grind', 'dice', or 'shred'. Often modifies adjectives or past participles like 'tuned', 'balanced', or 'crafted'.

finely

adv.

US //ˈfaɪnɫi// UK //fˈaɪnli// fine·ly

1 into small pieces (adv.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

into very small or thin pieces.

to a degree of minute physical texture or small particle size.

Example

You should chop the garlic finely so it blends into the sauce.

Example

The recipe requires the herbs to be finely minced to ensure their oils are evenly distributed throughout the marinade.

Usage

Commonly used with verbs like 'chop', 'grind', 'dice', or 'shred'.
- thinly
- minutely
- coarsely
- roughly
2 with great detail (adv.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

done with great care, skill, or detail.

with a high degree of precision, delicacy, or subtle discrimination.

Example

The watch has a finely tuned engine that keeps perfect time.

Example

The diplomat navigated the finely balanced political situation with remarkable tact, avoiding any potential for international misunderstanding.

Usage

Often modifies adjectives or past participles like 'tuned', 'balanced', or 'crafted'.
- clumsily
- poorly

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3 elegantly (adv.)
C1 Advanced Literary Formal

in a way that looks expensive, beautiful, or high-quality.

in an elegant, handsome, or aesthetically superior manner.

Example

The guests arrived at the palace finely dressed in silk and jewels.

Example

The manor house was finely furnished with eighteenth-century antiques, reflecting the family's long history of wealth and refined taste.
- shabbily

Origin

From Middle English finely, fynely, fynly, fineliche, finliche, fynliche, equivalent to fine + -ly.