superficially
gb/sˈupɚfˌɪʃəli/ us/sˈupɚfˌɪʃəli/
B2
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
adverb
B2
property
1
in a shallow, cursory way
without thinking or looking carefully
Schéma d’usage :
[do/consider/examine/read] [something] superficially
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may use the adjective instead: say “I looked at it superficially,” not “I looked at it superficial.”
Synonymes
cursorily (More formal; emphasizes doing something quickly and without care.)
|
lightly (Suggests not giving something much attention or importance.)
Antonymes
thoroughly (In a complete and careful way.)
|
deeply (With serious attention and understanding.)
Collocations
look superficially
|read superficially
|skim superficially
|examine superficially
|understand superficially
|deal with something superficially
|treat something superficially
|address something superficially
|analyze superficially
|judge superficially
Thèmes
thinking
|education
|work
Exemples
- He read the contract superficially and missed an important clause.
- The topic is complex and can’t be handled superficially in a ten-minute talk.
- I only understood the argument superficially until I saw the data.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I looked at the report superficially.
- Don’t judge the problem superficially.
adverb
C1
relation
2
only in appearance
in a way that is true only on the outside
Schéma d’usage :
[things/people] are superficially [adjective] / superficially [similar/different]
Erreur fréquente :
Don’t use it to mean “a little bit” (that’s “slightly”): “superficially different” means the difference is only on the surface.
Synonymes
apparently (Emphasizes how something seems, often with uncertainty.)
|
on the surface (A common phrase meaning ‘in appearance only’.)
Antonymes
fundamentally (At the most basic level; in an essential way.)
|
essentially (In the real or most important way.)
Collocations
superficially similar
|superficially different
|superficially attractive
|superficially convincing
|superficially calm
|superficially polite
|superficially friendly
|superficially simple
|superficially plausible
|superficially secure
Thèmes
communication
|social
|comparison
Exemples
- The two plans are superficially similar, but their costs are very different.
- She seemed superficially confident, yet she was nervous inside.
- The argument is superficially convincing until you check the sources.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The rooms look superficially the same.
- He is superficially polite.
adverb
technical
C1
relation
3
on or near the surface
near the outside surface
Schéma d’usage :
[something] lies/is located superficially (to) [something]
Erreur fréquente :
This is about physical location (often medical/anatomy), not about ‘not serious’.
Synonymes
externally (More general; means ‘on the outside’ rather than ‘near the surface’.)
Antonymes
deeply (Far below the surface or well inside.)
Collocations
located superficially
|lie superficially
|situated superficially
|superficially placed
|superficially positioned
|run superficially
|superficially to a muscle
|superficially to a nerve
|superficially in the skin
|superficially beneath the surface
Thèmes
health
|science
Exemples
- The cut was superficial; it only affected tissue superficially.
- Several veins run superficially just under the skin.
- The lump is located superficially and is easy to examine.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The scratch is only superficially on the skin.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
superficially
API
GB/sˈupɚfˌɪʃəli/
US/sˈupɚfˌɪʃəli/
Syllabes et accentuation
su - per - fi - cially (4 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (su)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: superficially
- Plural: superficiallies
Expressions
superficially speaking
1/sˈupɚfˌɪʃəli spˈikɪŋ/
fixed phrase
judging only by appearances
if we only look at the surface facts
Exemples
- Superficially speaking, the deal looks fair, but the details matter.
- Superficially speaking, their ideas match, yet their goals are different.
superficially, at least
1/sˈupɚfˌɪʃəli | ˈæt lˈist/
fixed phrase
true only on the surface
from the outside, anyway
Exemples
- They’re cooperating now—superficially, at least.
- The system is stable, superficially at least, but errors keep appearing.