# slightly

/ˈsɫaɪtɫi/ (US) · /slˈaɪtli/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slightly
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. slenderly

adverb · CEFR C2 · Literary

having a thin or delicate body.

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

- She was a slightly built woman who looked much younger than her age.
- The protagonist was described as a slightly built youth, appearing almost fragile against the harsh backdrop of the industrial city.

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

## Examples

- The room is slightly warmer now.
- The new model is slightly more expensive than the previous one, but it includes better features.
- Although the results were slightly better than last year, the board remained concerned about the long-term sustainability of the current growth strategy.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.