What is successfully? Pronunciation and usage in English

successfully means . Learn how to pronounce and use successfully through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of successfully

successfullyadverb

/səkˈsɛsfʊli//səkˈsɛsfəli/
Definition & pronunciation of successfully

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "successfully." It's a tricky one for many English learners! Here's a breakdown:

1. Syllable by Syllable:

  • suc-cess-ful-ly: Let's look at each part individually.
    • suc: Like "suck" – short and quick.
    • cess: Like "cessation" (but without the "ation") – a soft “s” sound.
    • ful: Like "full" – rhymes with “pull.”
    • ly: Like "ly" in "friendly" – a very short, light “l” sound.

2. Putting it Together - The Flow:

The key is to link the syllables smoothly. Here's a breakdown of the rhythm and emphasis:

  • First Syllable (suc): Short and bright.
  • Second Syllable (cess): A little bit longer, but still relatively quick.
  • Third Syllable (ful): Pronounce the 'f' clearly - it's not a silent 'f' as it sometimes is.
  • Fourth Syllable (ly): Very short and light. Think about just adding a little "l" sound at the end.

3. Combined Pronunciation (with emphasis):

The most common and natural pronunciation is something like this:

ˈsək-sɛs-fəl-i

  • ˈsək: (Stress on this syllable - it’s the most important one to get right)
  • sɛs: (Pronounced like "sess")
  • fəl: (as we discussed - “full”)
  • i: (A short "i" sound, like in "bit")

4. Tips and Common Mistakes:

  • Don’t over-pronounce: It's tempting to really draw out all the syllables, but “successfully” is a flowing word.
  • The “c” in “cess”: Make sure it’s a clear “s” sound, not a hard “k.”
  • Don't confuse it with “successfully”: That’s incorrect. It's always "successfully."

Resources for Hearing it:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What’s your native language? (This helps me understand potential pronunciation challenges you might have.)

Usage and examples with the word successfully in English

Let's break down how to use the word "successfully" effectively in English. It's a versatile word, but it needs to be used correctly to convey the right meaning.

1. Basic Meaning & Structure:

  • "Successfully" is an adverb. This means it modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It describes how something happened.
  • It's usually formed by adding "-ly" to the adjective "successful."

2. Common Uses:

Here's a breakdown of how you'll typically see "successfully" used, with examples:

  • After a Verb (Most Common): This is the most frequent way to use it. It tells you how an action was completed.

    • Example: “She successfully finished the marathon.” (She completed the marathon in a way that was successful – meaning she didn't give up and reached the end.)
    • Example: “The company successfully launched its new product.” (The launch was a successful launch.)
    • Example: “He successfully negotiated a lower price.” (He got the lower price through a successful negotiation.)

  • After an Adjective (Less Common): You can use it to describe something as successful.

    • Example: “They are successfully managing the project.” (They are currently managing the project in a successful way.) – This emphasizes the ongoing nature of the success.

  • As Part of a Phrase:

    • “Successfully complete”: “He successfully completed the assignment.” (Means he finished and did it well).
    • “Successfully implement”: “The organization successfully implemented the new policy.” (Means they put the policy into action and it worked well).
    • “Successfully negotiate”: (As above)

3. Key Points & Nuances:

  • Focus on the Outcome: “Successfully” always relates to the result of an action. It's not about the effort itself, but about whether the goal was achieved.

  • Emphasis on Achievement: It highlights that something went well and achieved its intended purpose.

  • Sometimes, “Successfully” can be Redundant: In some cases, it can be omitted. For example, “She finished the marathon” is perfectly fine and often sounds more concise than “She successfully finished the marathon.” However, including “successfully” provides extra emphasis on the achievement.

  • Don’t use it with adjectives that already imply success: Don't say "He successfully strong." "Strong" already means successful.

4. Examples in Different Contexts:

  • Academic: “The student successfully completed her dissertation.”
  • Business: “The team successfully met its quarterly sales goals.”
  • Personal: “I successfully motivated my team to work harder.”
  • Everyday: “We successfully cooked a delicious dinner.”

5. Contrast with "Successfully" vs. "Successful":

This is a common point of confusion.

  • Successfully: How something happened (adverb). “He successfully ran the race.”
  • Successful: That something happened (adjective). “He is a successful businessman.”

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of writing are you doing (e.g., academic essays, creative writing, business reports)?
  • Can you give me an example sentence you're struggling with?

Synonyms for the word successfully

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