English Reference
Word adverb

slightly

adv.
US /ˈsɫaɪtɫi/ UK /slˈaɪtli/ slight·ly
Definition
  1. 01 C2 Proficiency Literary

    having a thin or delicate body.

    in a slender or delicate manner. This sense is less common in modern speech and usually describes a person's physical build.

    Simple

    “She was a slightly built woman who looked much younger than her age.”

    In context

    “The protagonist was described as a slightly built youth, appearing almost fragile against the harsh backdrop of the industrial city.”

    Teacher's tip

    In modern English, this sense is almost exclusively found in the fixed phrase 'slightly built' to describe a person's frame.

    Synonyms
    thinlydelicatelyslenderly
    Antonyms
    heavilythickly

Usage slightly different · slightly higher · slightly smaller

Etymology

From slight + -ly.

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

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated