Word
handsomely
Phoneticshand·some·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhænsəmɫi/
UK/hˈændsʌmli/
Definition
adv. in a way that is very generous or impressive. You use this to describe a reward or a performance that is much better than expected.
adv. in a manner that is generous, impressive, or well-earned. Often used to describe the scale of a reward or the quality of a performance.
Examples
“The company rewarded him handsomely for his hard work.”
“The athlete performed handsomely in the final race, breaking the world record by several seconds.”
“The committee decided to award the prize handsomely, recognizing not only the technical skill of the entry but also its profound social impact on the local community.”
Examples
simple
“The company rewarded him handsomely for his hard work.”
contextual
“The athlete performed handsomely in the final race, breaking the world record by several seconds.”
complex
“The committee decided to award the prize handsomely, recognizing not only the technical skill of the entry but also its profound social impact on the local community.”
Real-World Examples
“Millions of Americans had parallel thoughts that he, clad handsomely in a $500 safari shirt, resembled Russell Crowe – perhaps tacitly revealing that millions of Americans have long undersold the appeal of Russell Crowe.” “You’ll pay handsomely for that ability, but enough people are willing to do so that Samsung’s 2026 foldables are seeing record sales—though they still trail flat phones by a wide margin.” Etymology
From handsome + -ly (suffix forming adverbs).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- 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.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL 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: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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