Word
soundly
Phoneticssound·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsaʊndɫi/
UK/sˈaʊndli/
Definition
adv. in a way that is very clear, strong, or effective. You use this to describe something that is done well or that has a strong effect.
adv. in a manner that is thorough, effective, or clearly defined. Often used to describe the quality of a victory, a sleep, or a logical argument.
Examples
“The team won the game soundly.”
“After a soundly defeating the opposition in the final round, the champion felt confident about her future in the sport.”
“The committee's decision was soundly based on years of empirical research, leaving little room for the critics to challenge the methodology.”
Examples
simple
“The team won the game soundly.”
contextual
“After a soundly defeating the opposition in the final round, the champion felt confident about her future in the sport.”
complex
“The committee's decision was soundly based on years of empirical research, leaving little room for the critics to challenge the methodology.”
Real-World Examples
“I realised I would not sleep soundly until I gave in to my body.” Etymology
From Middle English soundly, soundely, from Old English ġesundlīċe (“safely, prosperously, gladly”), equivalent to sound + -ly. Originally meaning "safely", the present sense came in the 16ᵗʰ century.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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