gravely
gravely — adverb
1. to a worrying degree (especially of harm, illness, danger, or error); or with a
to a worrying degree (especially of harm, illness, danger, or error); or with a serious demeanour that shows awareness of the importance of a situation
Gabriel was gravely injured in the car accident last Tuesday.
collocation: gravely injured / gravely ill
Ms. Chen spoke gravely when she told the students about the school's financial trouble.
gravely + verb of speech
Astrid realised she had gravely underestimated the difficulty of the test.
Several residents were gravely affected by the flood that swept through the village.
Kenji nodded gravely, understanding the weight of Tariq's decision.
- seriously
broader in use and less formal; works in both degree and manner contexts
- severely
focuses on the harshness or intensity of the degree; common with injuries and punishment
- solemnly
applies only to manner (not degree); emphasises a dignified, often ceremonial seriousness
- earnestly
applies to manner; stresses sincerity and heartfelt intention rather than gravity
文法句型
gravely + adjective (injured/ill/mistaken)
verb + gravely (spoke/nodded/said)
用法筆記
Most commonly used with adjectives describing injury, illness, or error. When describing manner of speech or behaviour, carries a formal tone and is less frequent in everyday conversation.