singularly
gb/sˈɪŋɡjəlɚli/ us/sˈɪŋɡjəlɚli/
C1
Anglais
~ 5800
Sens
0 sens
adverb
formal
C1
property
1
very; remarkably; especially
very; especially; more than is normal or expected.
Schéma d’usage :
singularly [adjective]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes think "singularly" means only "alone" or "one by one" because of its link to "single." In modern English, it is most often used as a formal adverb meaning "very" or "especially," usually before an adjective (e.g., "singularly difficult"). It is not used where simple "single" is needed (e.g., not *"a singularly room" but "a single room").
Synonymes
remarkably (Stresses that something is surprising or unusual as well as strong in degree.)
|
particularly (Common, neutral intensifier; less formal and less old-fashioned than "singularly.")
|
extremely (Focuses on very high degree, without the slight flavor of oddness that "singularly" can have.)
Antonymes
slightly (Indicates only a small degree, the opposite of the strong emphasis in "singularly.")
|
moderately (Suggests an average or middle degree, contrasting with the very high degree of "singularly.")
Collocations
singularly beautiful
|singularly inappropriate
|singularly unsuccessful
|singularly focused
|singularly unimpressed
|singularly important
Thèmes
communication
|evaluation
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The plan was singularly unsuccessful, costing the company millions.
- She is a singularly talented pianist for someone so young.
- It was a singularly bad idea to launch the product without testing.
- He seemed singularly uninterested in hearing any other opinions.
- The speech was singularly effective in changing public opinion.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The movie was singularly boring, and many people left early.
- This is a singularly important step in the project.
- I found her answer singularly strange.
- He was singularly unlucky that day.
- The teacher was singularly pleased with your work.
adverb
formal
C1
property
2
in a unique or distinctive way
in a special way that is only that person’s or thing’s; not like anyone or anything else.
Schéma d’usage :
singularly [possessive adjective] own
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may mix this sense with the common intensifier meaning "very." When you say something is "singularly his own," the focus is on it being unique to him, not just very strong. Contexts with possessives ("his own," "her own," "its own") usually signal this uniqueness meaning.
Synonymes
uniquely (Very close in meaning; slightly more common and neutral than "singularly.")
|
distinctively (Emphasizes clear difference from others, without the somewhat formal tone of "singularly.")
Antonymes
typically (Suggests something is like most others of its kind, not special or uniquely its own.)
|
generically (Highlights ordinary, non-special qualities, the opposite of the uniqueness in "singularly.")
Collocations
singularly his own
|singularly her own
|singularly original
|singularly personal
Thèmes
evaluation
|art_culture
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- Her writing voice is singularly her own and instantly recognizable.
- The building has a style that is singularly its own, mixing old and new elements.
- He approaches problems in a way that is singularly original.
- The film is singularly personal, reflecting only the director’s experiences.
- Their menu is singularly their own, with dishes you cannot find elsewhere.
Exemples pédagogiques
- This artist has a style that is singularly her own.
- The city has a character that is singularly its own.
- He solved the problem in a way that was singularly his own.
- The song is singularly original and does not sound like other songs.
- Her view of the world is singularly her own.
adverb
literary
C2
property
3
individually; separately; one by one
each one alone; not together with other people or things.
Schéma d’usage :
[people/things] are considered singularly
Erreur fréquente :
This sense is rare and quite literary. In modern English, "individually" or "separately" are usually better choices. Learners may overuse "singularly" here because it looks like "single"; however, in everyday speech this sounds old-fashioned.
Synonymes
individually (The common modern adverb for doing or considering things one by one.)
|
separately (Focuses on being apart from others, without the literary feel of "singularly.")
Antonymes
collectively (Means as a group, which contrasts with the one-by-one idea of "singularly.")
|
together (Directly opposite of doing or considering things one by one.)
Collocations
taken singularly
|considered singularly
|viewed singularly
Thèmes
formal_writing
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- The cases must be examined singularly, not as a single group.
- Each application will be judged singularly on its merits.
- Taken singularly, the errors are minor, but together they are serious.
- These issues cannot be addressed singularly; they must also be seen in relation to each other.
- The witnesses were interviewed singularly to prevent them from influencing one another.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Each problem was looked at singularly.
- The students were tested singularly, one at a time.
- Every item was checked singularly before it was packed.
- Each report was read singularly by the manager.
- The players were called into the office singularly.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
singularly
API
GB/sˈɪŋɡjəlɚli/
US/sˈɪŋɡjəlɚli/
Syllabes et accentuation
sin - gu - larly (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (sin)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: singularly
- Plural: singularlies
Famille de mots
Expressions
singularly enough
1/sˈɪŋɡjəlɚli ɪnˈʌf/
fixed phrase
literary
strangely or surprisingly, given the situation
used to say that something is strange or not what you expect in that situation.
Exemples
- Singularly enough, no one complained about the long delay.
- Singularly enough, the smallest company offered the best salary.
- Singularly enough, he refused the promotion everyone thought he wanted.