adv · 5 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
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General-American:/ˈɡɹoʊsli/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɡɹəʊsli/
CMU ARPABET:G R OW1 S L IY0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adv
Meaning 1
Greatly; to a large degree, especially one large enough to be frankly appreciable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
grossly inflated expectations
grossly enlarged hepatic lobes, evident on palpation
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
To a serious, severe, or offensive degree.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
grossly misjudged
grossly inflamed
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: gravely, flagrantly
Antonyms: none provided
3
adv
Meaning 3
In a gross (disgusting) manner; without delicacy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, not-comparable
Examples
The men were talking grossly about their sexual conquests.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: disgustingly
Antonyms: none provided
4
adv
Meaning 4
Roughly; approximately; inexactly; sketchily.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, not-comparable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
adverb
Meaning 5
in a gross manner
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English gross Middle English -ly English -ly English grossly From gross + -ly.
Across languages
Translations
10 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
грубо
(grubo)
— in a gross manner
Bulgarian:
вулгарно
(vulgarno)
— in a gross manner