Word
sharply
US/ˈʃɑɹpɫi/
UK/ʃˈɑːpli/
Adverb of manner
Definitions
01suddenly and significantly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. suddenly and by a large amount.
adv. describing a sudden, steep, or significant change in degree or amount.
“Prices rose sharply last month, making it harder for families to buy groceries.”
“The company's stock value fell sharply following the announcement of the CEO's unexpected resignation.”
Usage
Commonly used with verbs of increasing or decreasing, such as 'rise', 'fall', 'drop', or 'improve'.
Synonyms
02clearly or precisely
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. in a way that is very clear and easy to see.
adv. with great clarity, precision, or distinctness of detail.
“The mountains stood out sharply against the bright blue sky.”
“The new policy contrasts sharply with the previous administration's approach to environmental regulation.”
Synonyms
03with a sudden turn
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. changing direction very quickly.
adv. describing a sudden or acute change in physical direction.
“The road turns sharply to the left just after the bridge.”
“The river bends sharply at the valley floor, creating a natural barrier that has historically protected the village from northern winds.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sharply” in context.
Verb
01. sharply define
“The new lighting helped to sharply define the edges of the sculpture.”
adv + verb
02. sharply increase
“The price of electricity is expected to sharply increase during the winter months.”
adv + verb
03. sharply reduce
“The company had to sharply reduce its spending to avoid going bankrupt.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“Borrowing costs for customers coming off those deals are likely to rise sharply.” “Conditions can differ sharply even within the same city.” Etymology
From Middle English sharply, scharply, from Old English sċearplīċe (“sharply, smartly”), equivalent to sharp + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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