What does “especially” mean?
- 1
adverbmore than usual or more than others; in particular
I love fruit, especially mangoes.
- 2
adverbfor one particular purpose or person
I made this cake especially for you.
Especially at a glance
- Part of speech
- adverb
- CEFR level
- A2 (elementary)
- Pronunciation
- /ɪˈspɛʃəli/ · ih-SPESH-uh-lee
How to use “especially” correctly
Don’t start a sentence with “Especially” on its own. Say “I like sports, especially soccer”, not “Especially, I like soccer.”
Common phrases with “especially”
- especially when
- especially if
- not especially
Synonyms, opposites and related words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- particularly
- specially
- above all
“especially” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- actually adverbA2used to say what is really true, often when it is surprising
- else adverbA2in addition to or different from the person, thing or place already mentioned
- even adverbA2used to show that something is surprising or more than expected
- exactly adverbA2completely correct, with no difference at all
- instead adverbA2in place of someone or something else
- quite adverbA2fairly, more than a little but not very
- also adverbA1in addition; as well
- how adverbA1used to ask about the way something is done or happens