Word
mercifully
Phoneticsmer·ci·ful·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɝsɪfəˌɫi/
UK/mˈɜːsɪfəli/
Sentence adverb
Definition
adv. luckily, when something bad stops or does not happen. You say it when you feel relief that things are better.
adv. Indicating relief that an unpleasant situation has ended or been avoided, similar in force to 'fortunately'. Also describes acting with mercy rather than harshness.
Examples
“Mercifully, the baby stops crying and sleeps.”
“Mercifully, the traffic clears and we reach the airport with twenty minutes to spare.”
“Mercifully, the storm weakens overnight, leaving the coastal villages shaken but intact as dawn reveals a calm, grey sea.”
Examples
simple
“Mercifully, the baby stops crying and sleeps.”
contextual
“Mercifully, the traffic clears and we reach the airport with twenty minutes to spare.”
complex
“Mercifully, the storm weakens overnight, leaving the coastal villages shaken but intact as dawn reveals a calm, grey sea.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mercifully” in context.
Verb
01. mercifully end
“The storm mercifully ended before the evening rush hour.”
adv + verb
02. mercifully pass
“The headache mercifully passed while she was sleeping.”
adv + verb
03. mercifully spare
“Our town was mercifully spared the worst of the flood.”
adv + verb
04. mercifully stop
“The loud music mercifully stopped just after midnight.”
adv + verb
Adjective
05. mercifully brief
“The meeting was mercifully brief and finished before lunch.”
adv + adj
06. mercifully cool
“The house felt mercifully cool during the afternoon heat.”
adv + adj
07. mercifully quiet
“The flat was mercifully quiet after the loud party ended.”
adv + adj
08. mercifully short
“The delay was mercifully short and the bus soon arrived.”
adv + adj
09. be mercifully brief
“His speech was mercifully brief and lasted ten minutes.”
10. be mercifully free of
“The beach was mercifully free of crowds in October.”
11. mercifully, no one was hurt
“The bus crashed, but mercifully, no one was hurt.”
12. mercifully, the rain stopped
“We waited an hour until mercifully, the rain stopped.”
Usage
Often placed at the start of a clause to comment on the whole situation; as a manner adverb it follows the verb.
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 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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