English Reference
Adverb

mortally

adv. manner
C2 Proficiency US /ˈmɔɹtəɫi/ UK /mˈɔːtəli/ mor·tal·ly

adv.in a way that causes death. You use this to describe an injury or a blow that is so bad that it kills someone.

adv.in a manner that causes death or is fatal. Often used in literary or historical contexts to describe wounds, blows, or insults.


SIMPLE

The knight was mortally wounded in the final battle.

CONTEXTUAL

The poet used the word to describe the king's mortally insulting speech, which ended the fragile peace.

COMPLEX

The protagonist's journey is defined by a series of mortally dangerous encounters that test his resolve and ultimately lead to his tragic downfall.

A German cavalry patrol had ambushed it, killing a passenger and mortally wounding the driver.

Smithsonian Magazine· 1 Sept 2026

Kurt Solomon, who had served 31 years with the police department, was mortally injured with a sharp object, authorities have said.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026
This entry
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Occasional
Updated