slightly

slightly — adverb

1. by a small amount that you can notice — for instance, when food tastes a little

1.副詞A2
釋義

by a small amount that you can notice — for instance, when food tastes a little too salty, a colour does not match the sample, or someone responds with just a tiny movement.

例句

The soup was slightly too salty for Aaron's taste.

slightly + adjective (too salty)

Tamás smiled slightly when he heard the good news.

slightly + verb (smiled)

同義詞
  • a little

    more informal and common in conversation; 'slightly' sounds more precise

  • somewhat

    slightly more formal; used before adjectives (somewhat different)

  • a bit

    very informal; common in everyday British English speech

  • marginally

    formal and implies a very small amount, often in business or academic contexts

反義詞
  • very

    to a large degree rather than a small one

  • extremely

    to a much higher degree

文法句型

slightly + adjective

slightly + verb

slightly + comparative adjective

用法筆記

Commonly modifies adjectives (slightly different, slightly warmer) and verbs that express change or movement (improved slightly, moved slightly, changed slightly). It sounds more precise and restrained than 'a little' in formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌The rain fell slightly on the roof.
✅The rain fell lightly on the roof.
💡'slightly' is about degree, not physical weight or pressure; use 'lightly' for gentle physical contact.

2. used only in the fixed phrase 'slightly built' to describe a person who is thin

2.副詞B1
釋義

used only in the fixed phrase 'slightly built' to describe a person who is thin and has a small, delicate body frame — for example, a dancer whose body is light and slender, or a person who looks physically fragile even though they may be strong.

例句

Iris was slightly built but strong enough to carry her own luggage up the stairs.

contrast: slightly built but strong

The doctor told Reema that her son's slightly built frame was normal for his age.

collocation: slightly built frame

同義詞
  • slender

    more common and positive; describes an attractively thin shape

  • slim

    everyday word for thin in an attractive way

  • delicate

    emphasises a fragile or fine bone structure

反義詞
  • heavily built

    describes a large, strong, or stocky body frame

  • stocky

    describes a short, broad, solid body

文法句型

be + slightly built

slightly built + noun (frame / person / man / woman)

用法筆記

This sense is almost exclusively used in the fixed collocation 'slightly built'. You cannot use 'slightly' alone to mean 'thin' — 'She is very slightly' is incorrect. The phrase 'slightly built' applies to both men and women and describes frame size, not physical strength or health.

常見錯誤

❌She is very slightly.
✅She is very slightly built.
💡'slightly' alone does not mean 'thin'; it must always be followed by 'built' when describing body type.