internally
internally — adverb
1. inside a living body rather than on its surface — used when describing injuries,
inside a living body rather than on its surface — used when describing injuries, conditions, or treatments that affect organs and tissues within the body
The doctors discovered the patient was bleeding internally after the car accident.
collocation: bleeding internally
Some medications work best when applied to the skin, while others must be taken internally.
contrast: applied to the skin vs. taken internally
X-rays showed that Gabriel had a fracture, but no organs were damaged internally.
The infection spread internally before any visible marks appeared on the skin.
- inside
less formal; often used for physical location rather than medical contexts
- externally
on the outside of the body
- topically
applied to the skin or surface, in medical usage
用法筆記
Commonly used in medical contexts to describe injuries, conditions, or treatments that affect organs and tissues inside the body rather than the surface.
常見錯誤
2. relating to a person's private thoughts and feelings rather than their visible b
relating to a person's private thoughts and feelings rather than their visible behaviour or expression
Lakshmi remained calm on the outside, but internally she was very nervous about the interview.
contrast: on the outside vs. internally
Amani struggled internally with self-doubt even when she appeared confident to others.
The therapist helped Christopher understand the anger he had been holding internally for years.
Daichi was celebrating internally when he heard the good news, though he only smiled politely.
- outwardly
in a way that can be seen or observed by others
用法筆記
Often used to contrast a person's inner emotional or mental state with their observable behaviour or expression.
3. within the interior of a container, machine, or building rather than on its oute
within the interior of a container, machine, or building rather than on its outer surfaces
The pipes were rusted internally, so the water came out with a brown colour.
collocation: rusted internally
Sari checked the suitcase internally and found a hidden pocket behind the lining.
The old warehouse looked sturdy from the street, but internally the walls were crumbling.
A smartphone's battery is sealed internally and cannot be removed by the user.
- inside
simpler, more common in everyday speech
- externally
on the outside or exterior
- on the surface
describing only the outer layer
4. within a company or group, kept among its own members and not shared with people
within a company or group, kept among its own members and not shared with people outside
The company decided to fill the manager position internally rather than hiring someone from outside.
collocation: fill [position] internally
Karim sent an internally circulated memo about changes to the team structure.
collocation: internally circulated
The complaints were handled internally by human resources and never reached the public.
When the project failed, the team reviewed the mistakes internally before updating the client.
- externally
involving people or organisations from outside
- publicly
in a way that involves or is known by the general public
用法筆記
Common in business and HR contexts to describe processes, communications, or decisions that are kept within the organisation.
5. confined to one nation's own territory, government, or affairs without involving
confined to one nation's own territory, government, or affairs without involving other countries
The government focused internally on infrastructure projects instead of sending aid abroad.
collocation: focus internally
The prime minister said the nation must fix its economy internally before seeking foreign help.
Human rights groups criticised the regime for using its military internally against its own people.
The prime minister argued that spending money internally would benefit the nation more than importing foreign technology.
- domestically
more common in economic and political contexts; specifically refers to within a country
- at home
informal; used in news reporting and everyday speech
- internationally
involving or affecting multiple countries
- overseas
in or to a foreign country
- abroad
in or to a foreign country
用法筆記
Used in political, economic, and diplomatic contexts. Contrasts with 'internationally' or 'externally' when discussing national boundaries.
6. by virtue of the essential character or logical structure of something, independ
by virtue of the essential character or logical structure of something, independent of external influences or factors
The theory is internally consistent, even though it does not match real-world observations.
collocation: internally consistent
Brian felt the novel was not internally logical because the characters acted without clear reason.
A well-designed computer program should be internally coherent, with each part supporting the others.
A collectible item's value is not internally set; it depends on market demand and rarity.
- intrinsically
focuses more on the essential quality of something rather than its internal structure
- inherently
suggests a quality that is permanently part of something's nature
- externally
coming from outside factors or influences
- superficially
relating only to the surface level, not the inner nature
用法筆記
Common in academic and analytical contexts, especially with adjectives like 'consistent', 'coherent', 'logical', or 'contradictory'.