sharply
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
suddenly and by a large amount.
describing a sudden, steep, or significant change in degree or amount.
Simple“Prices rose sharply last month, making it harder for families to buy groceries.”
In context“The company's stock value fell sharply following the announcement of the CEO's unexpected resignation.”
UsageCommonly used with verbs of increasing or decreasing, such as 'rise', 'fall', 'drop', or 'improve'.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
in a way that is very clear and easy to see.
with great clarity, precision, or distinctness of detail.
Simple“The mountains stood out sharply against the bright blue sky.”
In context“The new policy contrasts sharply with the previous administration's approach to environmental regulation.”
Synonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
changing direction very quickly.
describing a sudden or acute change in physical direction.
Simple“The road turns sharply to the left just after the bridge.”
In context“The river bends sharply at the valley floor, creating a natural barrier that has historically protected the village from northern winds.”
Usage sharply define · sharply increase · sharply reduce
“Borrowing costs for customers coming off those deals are likely to rise sharply.”
“Conditions can differ sharply even within the same city.”
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.