acutely
gb/əkjˈutli/ us/əkjˈutli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
C1
property
1
very strongly; intensely
very strongly, especially in a way that is unpleasant or serious
Usage pattern:
acutely + [adjective/verb] (e.g., aware, feel, painful)
Common mistake:
Do not confuse acutely with accurately; acutely means 'very strongly' or 'keenly,' not 'correctly.'
Synonyms
intensely (General-purpose synonym for strong degree.)
|
keenly (Often used with feelings or awareness.)
|
sharply (Emphasizes a strong, sometimes sudden impact.)
Antonyms
mildly (Shows a low degree of feeling or intensity.)
|
faintly (Suggests only a weak sensation or awareness.)
Collocations
acutely aware
|acutely conscious
|acutely painful
|acutely embarrassing
|acutely anxious
|acutely aware of
|feel acutely
|acutely felt
|acutely disappointed
|acutely lonely
Themes
emotions
|health
|communication
Examples
- She was acutely aware of everyone watching her.
- He felt acutely embarrassed when he mispronounced her name.
- The pain became acutely worse after the fall.
Learner examples
- I was acutely aware of the noise.
- She felt acutely nervous before the test.
adverb
C1
property
2
severely; to an extreme degree
very seriously or extremely
Usage pattern:
acutely + [adjective] (e.g., vulnerable, short, affected)
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse acutely where very is enough; acutely often suggests seriousness or urgency.
Synonyms
severely (Common with shortages, damage, or constraints.)
|
critically (Highlights urgency or high stakes.)
|
extremely (More general; less tied to seriousness.)
Antonyms
slightly (Indicates only a small degree of impact.)
|
adequately (Opposes the idea of shortage or urgent need.)
Collocations
acutely short of
|acutely vulnerable
|acutely affected
|acutely aware of the problem
|acutely aware of the risk
|acutely needed
|acutely understaffed
|acutely deprived
|acutely constrained
|acutely dangerous
Themes
society
|business
|news
|risk
Examples
- Many hospitals are acutely short of nurses.
- Small businesses were acutely affected by the sudden rise in rent.
- In a drought, the region becomes acutely vulnerable to wildfires.
Learner examples
- We are acutely short of time.
- The village is acutely vulnerable during storms.
adverb
formal
C2
property
3
with keen perception; sharply
in a very perceptive way
Usage pattern:
acutely + [verb] (e.g., observe, notice, analyze)
Common mistake:
This sense is less common than the intensifier sense; in many sentences, 'carefully' or 'clearly' fits better.
Synonyms
perceptively (Directly emphasizes insight.)
|
shrewdly (Adds a sense of practical cleverness.)
Antonyms
obtusely (Suggests dull or unperceptive understanding.)
|
unthinkingly (Without careful perception or reflection.)
Collocations
acutely observed
|acutely noticed
|acutely analyzed
|acutely perceptive
|acutely sensitive to detail
|acutely attuned
|acutely discerning
|acutely aware
|acutely critical
|acutely attentive
Themes
thinking
|communication
|education
Examples
- The review acutely observed how the film builds tension through silence.
- She listened acutely for any change in his tone.
- He could acutely sense when a conversation was turning hostile.
Learner examples
- She listened acutely to the teacher.
adverb
technical
C1
property
4
suddenly and severely (medical)
suddenly and seriously ill (medical use)
Usage pattern:
acutely + [adjective/participle] (e.g., ill, inflamed, distressed)
Common mistake:
Do not use acutely to mean 'a little sick'; it usually suggests serious, fast-onset illness.
Synonyms
severely (Focuses on seriousness; not necessarily sudden.)
|
suddenly (Focuses on quick onset; not necessarily severe.)
Antonyms
chronically (Describes a condition lasting a long time.)
|
gradually (Opposes quick onset.)
Collocations
acutely ill
|acutely unwell
|acutely inflamed
|acutely infected
|acutely distressed
|acutely dehydrated
|acutely psychotic
|acutely symptomatic
|acutely breathless
|acutely febrile
Themes
health
|medicine
Examples
- After the surgery, he became acutely ill and was moved to intensive care.
- The patient was acutely dehydrated after two days without fluids.
- She was treated for acutely inflamed airways.
Learner examples
- He was acutely ill and needed a doctor.
adverb
technical
C2
property
5
forming a sharp angle
at a sharp angle (less than 90°)
Usage pattern:
acutely + [adjective/verb] (e.g., angled, sloped)
Common mistake:
This is a specialized meaning; most everyday uses of acutely are about intensity or seriousness.
Synonyms
sharply (Describes a strong angle without specifying degrees.)
Antonyms
obtusely (Describes an angle greater than 90 degrees.)
Collocations
acutely angled
|acutely sloped
|acutely pointed
|acutely tapering
|acutely inclined
Themes
design
|math
|architecture
Examples
- The roofline is acutely angled to shed snow quickly.
- A narrow, acutely angled corridor led to the back room.
Grammar
Dictionary form
acutely
IPA
GB/əkjˈutli/
US/əkjˈutli/
Syllables & stress
acutely (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: acutely
- Plural: acutelies
Word family
Expressions
acutely angled
1/əkjˈutli ˈæŋɡəld/
fixed phrase
technical
shaped at a sharp angle
with a very sharp angle
Examples
- The designer chose an acutely angled corner to make the room feel dynamic.
- An acutely angled turn in the road reduces visibility.
- The acutely angled roof helps snow slide off.
acutely ill
1/əkjˈutli ˈɪl/
fixed phrase
technical
suddenly and seriously ill
suddenly and seriously sick
Examples
- He became acutely ill during the flight.
- The ward is designed for acutely ill patients.
- She was acutely ill for several days but recovered quickly.
acutely painful
1/əkjˈutli pˈeɪnfəl/
fixed phrase
very strong physical or emotional pain
very painful
Examples
- The first few steps after the injury were acutely painful.
- It was acutely painful to watch the argument escalate.
- The treatment can be acutely painful for some patients.
acutely sensitive (to [something])
1/əkjˈutli sˈɛnsɪtɪv tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
react or notice very strongly
to react very strongly to something
Examples
- She is acutely sensitive to criticism.
- The device is acutely sensitive to temperature changes.
- After the operation, he was acutely sensitive to light.
acutely vulnerable
1/əkjˈutli vˈʌlnɚəbəl/
fixed phrase
formal
at very high risk of harm
very likely to be harmed or affected
Examples
- Elderly residents can be acutely vulnerable during heatwaves.
- The company was acutely vulnerable to a drop in demand.
- Coastal towns are acutely vulnerable to storm surges.
be acutely aware (of [something])
1/bˈi əkjˈutli əwˈɛɹ əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
know or notice very strongly
to understand or notice something very clearly
Examples
- I was acutely aware of how quiet the room had become.
- They are acutely aware of the risks involved.
- She became acutely aware that she had forgotten her passport.
be acutely conscious (of [something])
1/bˈi əkjˈutli kˈɑnʃəs əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
feel strongly aware of something
to feel very aware of something
Examples
- He was acutely conscious of his accent in the meeting.
- She is acutely conscious of how expensive childcare has become.
- I felt acutely conscious of being the only newcomer.
be acutely short of [something]
1/bˈi əkjˈutli ʃˈɔɹt əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
have a serious lack of something
to not have enough of something important
Examples
- The team is acutely short of experienced engineers.
- We were acutely short of time, so we skipped lunch.
- Some areas are acutely short of affordable housing.