professionally
professionally — adverb
1. with the level of skill, training, and care that a qualified expert would show w
with the level of skill, training, and care that a qualified expert would show when doing a particular type of work.
Sofia handled the angry customer professionally and resolved the issue within minutes.
verb + professionally (after main verb)
The entire kitchen had been professionally designed with stainless steel worktops.
passive: be + professionally + past participle
Nikhil professionally organized the conference, checking every detail twice.
Folake delivered the news professionally, without letting her own shock show.
- expertly
Focuses on deep knowledge and experience; slightly more formal
- skillfully
Emphasises technical ability and dexterity
- competently
Suggests basic adequacy rather than excellence; weaker in praise
- amateurishly
Describes work that lacks the expected skill or polish
- slipshod
Describes careless, messy work
文法句型
verb + professionally
professionally + verb (before verb)
be + professionally + past participle
用法筆記
Can appear either before the main verb (I professionally edited the report) or after it (I edited the report professionally). The post-verb position is more common in spoken English.
常見錯誤
2. as a paid activity that provides your main income, rather than as an unpaid hobb
as a paid activity that provides your main income, rather than as an unpaid hobby or pastime.
Tamar has been playing the violin professionally since she was eighteen.
verb + professionally for 'paid work' meaning
Walid began painting professionally after retiring from his teaching career.
The chef trained for years before cooking professionally in a restaurant.
Joon had never acted professionally before landing the lead role in the film.
- for a living
More conversational; specifies the income purpose directly
- as a career
Emphasises long-term commitment and advancement rather than current payment
- as a hobby
Done for personal enjoyment without expecting payment
- for fun
Done purely for pleasure, not for money
- amateurishly
Done without formal training or payment
文法句型
verb + professionally
professionally + verb
用法筆記
Typically used with creative, sporting, or craft activities (play, sing, paint, cook, dance, act, race). The contrast with doing something purely for enjoyment is central to this sense.
常見錯誤
3. in the area of your job, career, or working role, especially when contrasted wit
in the area of your job, career, or working role, especially when contrasted with your personal or private life.
Professionally, Evelyn is highly respected, but she keeps her private life quiet.
sentence adverb at start of clause
Ayana knew Bao professionally for years before they became close friends.
know + professionally (domain adverb)
You should keep your personal opinions separate from how you act professionally.
Asher was respected both personally and professionally by everyone in the office.
- at work
More informal; refers to the physical or social setting of one's job
- career-wise
Colloquial; focuses on advancement and professional development
- in a work context
Explicitly signals the situation rather than the person's role
- personally
Refers to private life, feelings, and relationships outside work
- privately
Refers to one's personal or home life
文法句型
professionally + comma + clause (sentence adverb)
verb + professionally (domain adverb)
用法筆記
Very frequently paired or contrasted with 'personally' in the same sentence. As a sentence adverb at the start of a clause ('Professionally,…'), it frames the domain of the statement that follows.