especially
adverb
es·pe·cial·ly
i-ˈspe-shə-lē 
-ˈspesh-lē
2
a
: in particular : particularly
food seems cheaper, especially meats
b
: for a particular purpose
built especially for research
3
—used as an intensive
an especially good essay
nothing especially radical in the remarks
Examples of especially in a Sentence
With the help of his staff, [Tim] Russert was especially good at arming himself for an interview by compiling a politician's previous statements in all their contradictions. Google was his tool and Gotcha his game.
—
David Remnick, New Yorker, 23 June 2008
In 1972, we began nonstop coverage of the Nixon-McGovern presidential campaign. Hunter [S. Thompson] took over my life then—and for many years after that when he was reporting (long nocturnal telephone calls and frequent all-night strategy sessions) and especially when he was writing. He was demanding in his need for time, attention, care, handling and editing.
—Jann S. Wenner, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2005
Moreover, Gone with the Wind is peopled with characters whose inconsistencies make them interesting, none more so than Scarlett O'Hara, an unattractive, inexplicably seductive antiheroine whom Trollope himself might well have been pleased to dream up on an especially good day.
—Terry Teachout, National Review, 20 Aug. 2001
… I am a tax dweeb. I like thinking about taxes and writing about taxes, and I really like doing my taxes. Especially since do-it-yourself tax software in a box got so great.
—Linda Stern, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2000
He was especially concerned about the contract.
There is nothing especially radical about that idea.
Winning this tournament was especially satisfying.
I made this pie especially for you.
David Remnick, New Yorker, 23 June 2008
In 1972, we began nonstop coverage of the Nixon-McGovern presidential campaign. Hunter [S. Thompson] took over my life then—and for many years after that when he was reporting (long nocturnal telephone calls and frequent all-night strategy sessions) and especially when he was writing. He was demanding in his need for time, attention, care, handling and editing.
—Jann S. Wenner, Rolling Stone, 24 Mar. 2005
Moreover, Gone with the Wind is peopled with characters whose inconsistencies make them interesting, none more so than Scarlett O'Hara, an unattractive, inexplicably seductive antiheroine whom Trollope himself might well have been pleased to dream up on an especially good day.
—Terry Teachout, National Review, 20 Aug. 2001
… I am a tax dweeb. I like thinking about taxes and writing about taxes, and I really like doing my taxes. Especially since do-it-yourself tax software in a box got so great.
—Linda Stern, Newsweek, 6 Mar. 2000
He was especially concerned about the contract.
There is nothing especially radical about that idea.
Winning this tournament was especially satisfying.
I made this pie especially for you.
Recent Examples on the Web
This should be exciting news for the 1 in 6 Americans who deal with infertility, especially those without health insurance or paying out-of-pocket because of inadequate coverage.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
The remarks, delivered to Standard Bank executives and reported for the first time by Semafor, captured the growing unease among policymakers about how quickly the external shocks can undermine domestic planning, especially for an open, import-dependent economy like South Africa.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
The upheaval in oil markets has the potential to alter the calculus for policymakers, especially if the spike in crude prices persists.
—Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Business has been down over the past year, but the past week was especially slow, said barber Leena Nguyen, who has worked there for 26 years.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for especially
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026
The remarks, delivered to Standard Bank executives and reported for the first time by Semafor, captured the growing unease among policymakers about how quickly the external shocks can undermine domestic planning, especially for an open, import-dependent economy like South Africa.
—Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
The upheaval in oil markets has the potential to alter the calculus for policymakers, especially if the spike in crude prices persists.
—Bloomberg News, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
Business has been down over the past year, but the past week was especially slow, said barber Leena Nguyen, who has worked there for 26 years.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for especially
Cite this Entry
“Especially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/especially. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
