Standard Lemma guide

critically

adv · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈkɹɪt.ɪk.li/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /ˈkɹɪt.ɪk.li/
  • US: [ˈkɹɪɾ.ɪk.li]
  • Mid-Atlantic, US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • /ˈkɹɪt.ɪ.kəl.i/
  • CMU ARPABET: K R IH1 T IH0 K AH0 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: K R IH1 T IH0 K L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a critical manner; with, or in terms of, criticism.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I looked critically at the frayed carpet of the hotel room.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

In terms of critique, review, of or by critics

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a critically applauded film

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adv

Meaning 3

With close discernment; accurately; exactly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adv

Meaning 4

At a crisis or critical time; in a situation, place, or condition of decisive consequence.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • a fortification critically situated

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

adv

Meaning 5

Requiring immediate attention; likely to cause a collapse.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • critically ill
  • critically injured
  • critically endangered

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

adverb

Meaning 6

in a critical manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • this must be examined critically

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: uncritically

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *krey- Proto-Indo-European *krinyétider. Proto-Hellenic *kríňňō Ancient Greek κρῑ́νω (krī́nō) Ancient Greek κρῐ- (krĭ-) Proto-Hellenic *-tās Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs) Ancient Greek κρῐτής (krĭtḗs) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek κριτικός (kritikós)bor. Latin criticus Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisbor. Old French -albor. ▲ Latin -ālis Old French -elbor. ▲ Latin -ālisbor. Middle English -al English -al English critical Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English critically From critical + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: اِنْتِقَاد (intiqād) — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Armenian: քննադատաբար (kʻnnadatabar) — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Catalan: críticament — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Czech: kriticky — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Dutch: kritiek — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Italian: criticamente — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Romanian: critic — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Romanian: în mod critic — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Russian: крити́чно (kritíčno) — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Slovak: kriticky — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Spanish: críticamente — in a critical manner, with criticism
  • Esperanto: kritike — in terms of critique, review
Real reading context

critically in complete knowledge articles