partly

adverb

part·​ly ˈpärt-lē 

: in some measure or degree : partially

Synonyms of partly

• partially
• halfway

Examples of partly in a Sentence

The project failed partly because of a lack of funds.

What you say is only partly true.

Recent Examples on the Web

Doctors in Aleppo later reported a pattern of regime snipers shooting to maim civilians, rather than to kill them—partly to maximize suffering, partly to invite rescue attempts. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

The company’s reputation was built partly on persuading audiences to take chances on inexpensive, surprising horror outings — often with little more than a compelling premise to go on. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Oct. 2026

Blessed, yes, but that same Sicilian superstition is at least partly responsible. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 12 Oct. 2026

Some of the symposium's organizers, like Ashley Mason, a clinical psychologist at the University of California, San Francisco, acknowledge their goal is partly to dispel the whiff of wellness hype. — Will Stone, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1523, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for partly

• smartly
• tartly

Kids Definition

partly

adverb

part·​ly ˈpärt-lē 

: in some measure or degree : not completely

a statement that is only partly true