sharply
Language: English
Part of speech: adv
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈʃɑɹpli/
ipa: /ˈʃɑːpli/
Forms: form: sharplier
form: more sharply
form: sharpliest
form: most sharply
Etymology: From Middle English sharply, scharply, from Old English sċearplīċe (“sharply, smartly”), equivalent to sharp + -ly.
Senses: examples: text: The stick was sharply tapered at one end.
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
So as to terminate in a sharp point or edge.
examples: text: When I touched the snake it recoiled sharply.
text: The economy has slowed to a pale shadow of its growth in recent years; inflation is high, the currency is declining sharply against the dollar — but the expectations of Brazilians have rarely been higher, feeding broad intolerance with corruption, bad schools and other government failings.
ref: 2013 June 18, Simon Romero, “Protests Widen as Brazilians Chide Leaders”, in New York Times, retrieved 21 Jun 2013:
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
Rapidly, abruptly.
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
Suddenly and intensely like a gasp, but typically as the result of an emotional reaction.
qualifier: to describe breathing
examples: text: a sharply focused essay
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
Precisely, accurately.
examples: text: Jones, the centre forward, started the game sharply.
text: Walters tried a long range shot in the third minute as he opened the game sharply, linking well with Robbie Keane, but goalkeeper Sergei Pareiko gathered the ball with ease.
ref: 2011 November 11, Rory Houston, “Estonia 0-4 Republic of Ireland”, in RTE Sport:
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
Quickly and alertly.
examples: text: When I asked her about her husband, she replied sharply that she had not seen him for several months.
text: Before long Tinette stuck her head round the door, and said sharply, 'You're to go to the study.'
ref: 1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 99:
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
Of speech, sternly, harshly or critically.
examples: text: He was sharply dressed in an expensive suit.
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
Stylishly, smartly.
examples: text: Turn sharply to the right.
text: The last 61 miles of the journey, from Kongsberg to Oslo, are through much less mountainous country. The railway curves sharply away from the Lågan^([sic]), and descends steadily, and in places steeply, past the head of Lake Fiskerumvatn to Hokksund, where the connecting line to the Bergen-Oslo Railway at Hønefoss diverges.
ref: 1956 April, H. A. Vallance, “To Oslo via Stavanger”, in Railway Magazine, page 219:
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
So as to form a sharp, or tight, angle.
examples: text: The road descends sharply.
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
Steeply; precipitously.
examples: text: His old war wound twinged sharply.
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
Piercingly; keenly; severely; painfully.
examples: text: Peter, after the manner of man at the breakfast table, had allowed half his kedgeree to get cold and was sniggering over a letter. Sophia looked at him sharply. The only letter she had received was from her mother. Sophia's mother was not a humourist.
ref: 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
In an intellectually alert and penetrating manner.
examples: text: The wealth of this small country contrasts sharply with that of its neighbours.
text: Hynes is careful to direct the credit to his paymasters in the Scottish Government, whose ambitions for rail contrast increasingly sharply with those in Westminster.
ref: 2023 November 15, Paul Clifton, “Early responses to Scottish fares trial”, in RAIL, number 996, pages 44-45:
glosses: In a sharp manner, in various senses.
In a strongly distinguishing or differentiating manner; acutely.