irrevocably

irrevocably — adverb

1. so that something is permanently altered and can never return to the way it was

1.副詞B2
釋義

so that something is permanently altered and can never return to the way it was before

例句

The earthquake irrevocably altered the coastline of the fishing village where Ravi grew up.

irrevocably + verb of physical change (altered, destroyed, reshaped)

Aiko's confession irrevocably changed the way her parents saw her.

同義詞
  • irreversibly

    more common in scientific or technical contexts (e.g., tissue damage, chemical reactions)

  • permanently

    describes a lasting state but does not emphasise that reversal was once possible

  • definitively

    focuses on conclusiveness of proof or settlement rather than unchangeability of a situation

文法句型

irrevocably + verb of change/damage/decision

用法筆記

Most often used with verbs of damage, separation, or decision-making (change, alter, damage, separate, lose). The subject is typically a significant event, a formal decision, or a single action with permanent consequences.

常見錯誤

❌He irrevocably missed the bus, so he was late for work.
✅He inevitably missed the bus, so he was late for work.
💡'Irrevocably' means something cannot be undone, not that it cannot be avoided. Use 'inevitably' for unavoidable events.
❌The river has irrevocably flowed to the sea for centuries.
✅The river has steadily flowed to the sea for centuries.
💡'Irrevocably' describes a one-time irreversible change, not an ongoing process.