[Word] Especially

es‧pe‧cial‧ly S1 W1 / ɪˈspeʃ ə li / adverb

1 [ sentence adverb ] used to emphasize that something is more important or happens more with one particular thing than with others SYN particularly :

I never liked long walks, especially in winter.

Art books are expensive to produce, especially if they contain colour illustrations.

2 [ + adjective/adverb ] to a particularly high degree or much more than usual SYN particularly :

I was especially fond of chocolate biscuits.

Feedback is especially important in learning skills.

A depreciation of the dollar would make US exports cheaper and especially so in Japan.

Graphics are especially well handled in the book.

3 for a particular person, purpose etc

especially for

She bought a new pair of trainers especially for the trip.

4 not especially not very, or not very much :

Accidents aren’t especially common, but you never know.

He didn’t especially want to learn to dance.

Grammar

Do not use especially before the subject of a sentence to emphasize it. Put especially after the subject :

Older voters especially (NOT Especially older voters) are concerned about crime.

THESAURUS

especially/particularly used when you want to emphasize that something concerns or affects one person or thing more than others, or is true about a particular situation more than others : This disease mostly affects women, particularly older women. | Paris is always full of tourists, especially in the summer. | It’s not easy to receive compliments, especially if you’re not used to them. | The surface is very slippery, particularly when it has been raining.

specially spoken especially : I like parks, specially when they’ve got lakes. | You have to be careful what you say, specially if there are children listening.

in particular especially – used before or after a noun. Often used in the phrases anyone/anything/anywhere in particular and someone/something/somewhere in particular : Mary loves most classical music, in particular Bach and Vivaldi. | Kids in particular will love this show. | Is there anything in particular you would like to eat? | Was there someone in particular you were hoping to meet?

notably formal used for saying someone or something is an important example of what you are talking about : The use of illegal drugs – notably marijuana – has increased in recent years. | A number of respected philosophers, most notably Leibniz, criticized Newton’s theories.

above all used for emphasizing that something is more important than all the other things you have mentioned : Get plenty of sleep, eat lots of good food, and above all try to relax.

most of all more than anything or anyone else : Swimming and soccer are fun, but I like dancing most of all. | Out of everybody at school she was the person who helped me most of all.