Word
uncontrollably
Phoneticsun·con·trol·lably
US/ˌənkənˈtɹoʊɫəbɫi/
UK/ʌnkəntɹˈəʊləbli/
Definition
adv. in a way that you cannot stop or manage. You use this when something happens suddenly and you have no power to change it.
adv. in a manner that cannot be restrained or managed by the will or by external force. Often describes physical reactions or sudden emotional outbursts.
Examples
“She laughed uncontrollably at the funny joke.”
“The wind blew uncontrollably through the open window, making it impossible to keep the paper on the desk.”
“The actor's uncontrollable laughter during the serious scene caused the entire studio to break into a fit of giggles, forcing the director to call a temporary halt to filming.”
Examples
simple
“She laughed uncontrollably at the funny joke.”
contextual
“The wind blew uncontrollably through the open window, making it impossible to keep the paper on the desk.”
complex
“The actor's uncontrollable laughter during the serious scene caused the entire studio to break into a fit of giggles, forcing the director to call a temporary halt to filming.”
Real-World Examples
“When Sasha talks about her father, whom she calls Chris rather than Dad, she shakes uncontrollably.” “It was a period when United panicked uncontrollably when they had a lead.” Etymology
From uncontrollable + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
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
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/uncontrollably