patchily
gb/pˈæt͡ʃəli/ us/pˈæt͡ʃəli/
C1
English
foltokban, foltszerűen, hiányosan, hézagosan, következetlenül
C1
FORMAL
1
foltokban
B1
foltszerűen
C1
Usage pattern:
[something] is [verb] patchily (across/throughout [place])
Snow lay patchily on the north-facing slopes, while the valley floor was clear.
Az északi fekvésű lejtőkön foltokban maradt meg a hó, míg a völgyfenék már tiszta volt.
The disease is patchily distributed across the island, with hotspots near the coast.
A betegség a szigeten foltszerűen oszlik el, a part közelében gócpontokkal.
It was patchily cloudy all morning, with brief sunny spells in between.
Learner examples
Grass grows patchily in dry areas.
A fű a száraz területeken foltokban nő.
The paint dried patchily on the wall.
A festék foltokban száradt meg a falon.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with partially (= not completely). Patchily means unevenly, with gaps.
Meaning
in patches; not evenly spread
Collocations
patchily distributed
|patchily spread
|patchily covered
|patchily scattered
|patchily across the region
|patchily throughout the country
|patchily present
|patchily affected
|patchily cloudy
|patchily foggy
Synonyms
unevenly (More general; not specifically in separate patches.)
|
irregularly (Emphasizes lack of a regular pattern.)
|
in patches (Closest paraphrase; more phrase-like than a single adverb.)
Antonyms
evenly (Spread equally across an area.)
|
uniformly (Spread consistently with no noticeable variation.)
Themes
nature
|weather
|places
Definition
In some places but not in others.
In a way that is unevenly spread over an area, occurring in some places but not others.
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
[something] is [verb] patchily (documented/recorded/understood)
The early years of her life are only patchily documented in the archives.
Életének korai évei az archívumokban csak hézagosan vannak dokumentálva.
Safety rules were patchily enforced, so practices varied from site to site.
A biztonsági szabályokat következetlenül tartatták be, ezért a gyakorlat helyszínről helyszínre változott.
The series is engaging, but the acting is patchily effective.
Learner examples
The topic is patchily explained in the book.
A témát a könyv csak hiányosan magyarázza el.
Common mistake:
Learners may use patchily when they mean briefly; patchily refers to uneven coverage, not short duration.
Meaning
inconsistently; with gaps in quality
Collocations
patchily documented
|patchily recorded
|patchily researched
|patchily understood
|patchily regulated
|patchily enforced
|patchily implemented
|patchily reported
|patchily successful
|patchily effective
Synonyms
inconsistently (Focuses on changing quality or behavior over time or across parts.)
|
spottily (More informal; often used for performance or coverage.)
|
sporadically (Emphasizes irregular occurrence rather than uneven coverage.)
Antonyms
consistently (Steady and reliable throughout.)
|
thoroughly (Complete, with no significant gaps.)
Themes
communication
|education
|work
Definition
Not consistently; some parts are good but other parts are missing or weak.
In a way that is not consistent or complete, with some parts good, clear, or available and other parts missing or weak.
Grammar
Dictionary form
patchily
IPA
GB/pˈæt͡ʃəli/
US/pˈæt͡ʃəli/
Syllables & stress
patch - ily (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (patch)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: patchily
- Plural: patchilies
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.