partial

partial — adjective

1. including only some of something, not the full thing, amount, or period.

1.形容詞B2
釋義

including only some of something, not the full thing, amount, or period.

例句

Marcus got a partial refund after the cancelled boat tour.

collocation: partial refund

The bank accepted a partial payment from the family.

collocation: partial payment

同義詞
  • incomplete

    the broadest choice for something not finished or not whole

  • limited

    stresses that the amount or range is small rather than full

  • unfinished

    best when work has started but has not been completed

  • fragmentary

    more formal and often used for information or records in broken pieces

反義詞
  • complete

    having every part or the full amount

  • full

    having the whole amount, range, or effect

  • total

    covering everything with nothing left out

文法句型

partial refund

partial payment

partial view

partial damage

用法筆記

Common before nouns for amounts, views, results, or periods that cover only part of a larger whole. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about incompleteness, not unfair preference.

常見錯誤

❌We got a partly refund.
✅We got a partial refund.
💡'partial' is the adjective before a noun; 'partly' is an adverb.
❌The damage was partial complete.
✅The damage was partial.' / 'The repair was not complete.
💡'partial' already contrasts with 'complete' and does not combine with it this way.

2. supporting one person, side, or idea too much because you already prefer it, ins

2.形容詞
釋義

supporting one person, side, or idea too much because you already prefer it, instead of judging evenly.

例句

Several players said the referee was partial to the home team.

be partial to + side when judging unfairly

The report looked partial because it quoted only one witness.

partial report giving only one side

同義詞
  • biased

    the most direct modern synonym for unfair preference

  • one-sided

    often used for reports or arguments that show only one view

  • prejudiced

    stronger and often linked to fixed unfair opinions about people or groups

  • unfair

    broader; can describe any lack of fairness, not only favoritism

反義詞
  • impartial

    fair and not favoring either side

  • neutral

    not supporting either side

  • objective

    based on facts rather than personal preference

文法句型

be partial to + person/group

a partial report

a partial account

用法筆記

Often used about judges, referees, teachers, reports, or articles. Distinguish from sense 3: this sense suggests unfair favoritism, while sense 3 only means liking something.

常見錯誤

❌The referee was partial, so both teams trusted him.
✅The referee was impartial, so both teams trusted him.
💡'partial' here means unfairly favoring one side; 'impartial' means fair.
❌Mina is partial to mango cake, so she is partial.
✅Mina is partial to mango cake.
💡by itself, 'partial' usually means biased, not simply that someone likes a food.

3. especially fond of a particular thing, so you enjoy or choose it more than other

3.形容詞
釋義

especially fond of a particular thing, so you enjoy or choose it more than others.

例句

Grandma is partial to mango ice on hot evenings.

be partial to + food

Yusuf has always been partial to old train films.

be partial to + thing you enjoy

同義詞
  • fond

    the closest everyday synonym, especially in 'fond of'

  • keen on

    informal and often used for hobbies or activities

  • devoted to

    stronger and often suggests loyalty or long-term commitment

  • attached to

    can suggest emotional closeness as well as simple liking

反義詞
  • indifferent to

    showing little interest or preference

  • dislike

    feeling that something is unpleasant rather than enjoyable

文法句型

be partial to + noun

be partial to + activity

用法筆記

Normally follows a linking verb and almost always takes 'to' before the thing liked. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense expresses taste or preference, not unfair judgment.

常見錯誤

❌Ella partials to quiet cafes.
✅Ella is partial to quiet cafes.
💡this adjective usually appears after a linking verb such as 'be'.
❌My father is partial with jazz.
✅My father is partial to jazz.
💡this sense normally takes the preposition 'to'.

partial — noun