Sharply

//ˈʃɑɹpli// adv

adv ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Adverb
  1. 1
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; So as to terminate in a sharp point or edge.

    "The stick was sharply tapered at one end."

  2. 2
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; Rapidly, abruptly.

    "When I touched the snake it recoiled sharply."

  3. 3
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; Suddenly and intensely like a gasp, but typically as the result of an emotional reaction.
  4. 4
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; Precisely, accurately.

    "a sharply focused essay"

  5. 5
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; Quickly and alertly.

    "Jones, the centre forward, started the game sharply."

Show 7 more definitions
  1. 6
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; Of speech, sternly, harshly or critically.

    "When I asked her about her husband, she replied sharply that she had not seen him for several months."

  2. 7
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; Stylishly, smartly.

    "He was sharply dressed in an expensive suit."

  3. 8
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; So as to form a sharp, or tight, angle.

    "Turn sharply to the right."

  4. 9
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; Steeply; precipitously.

    "The road descends sharply."

  5. 10
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; Piercingly; keenly; severely; painfully.

    "His old war wound twinged sharply."

  6. 11
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; In an intellectually alert and penetrating manner.

    "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."

  7. 12
    In a sharp manner, in various senses.; In a strongly distinguishing or differentiating manner; acutely.

    "The wealth of this small country contrasts sharply with that of its neighbours."

Adverb
  1. 1
    in an aggressive manner wordnet
  2. 2
    in a well delineated manner wordnet
  3. 3
    very suddenly and to a great degree wordnet
  4. 4
    changing suddenly in direction and degree wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
acutelyabruptlyacerbicallyacutelyaggressivelyaggressively

Example

More examples

"The plane rose sharply before leveling off as it left the coast."

Etymology

From Middle English sharply, scharply, from Old English sċearplīċe (“sharply, smartly”), equivalent to sharp + -ly.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.