English Reference
Adverb

liberally

adv.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈɫɪˌbɝəˌɫi/ UK /lˈɪbəɹəli/ lib·er·al·ly

adv.in a way that is generous or gives a lot of something. You use this to describe someone who gives money, time, or help without being stingy.

adv.in a manner that is generous, abundant, or without restriction. Often describes the distribution of resources or the application of a principle.


SIMPLE

She liberally sprinkled pepper over the soup.

CONTEXTUAL

The charity liberally distributed the donated food to the families in need during the winter.

COMPLEX

The professor liberally cited various historical sources to support her argument, ensuring that the essay was well-researched and balanced.

When Green first called “Action!”, his dark hair was not yet flecked liberally with grey.

The Guardian· 14 Aug 2026

From liberal + -ly.

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

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated