Adverb

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈ'ædvɜːb/
• IPA: /ˈædvəɹb/

Origin

From French adverbe, from Latin adverbium, from ad- ("to") + verbum ("word").

Full definition of adverb

Noun

1. (grammar) A word that modifies a verb, adjective, other adverbs, or various other types of words, phrases, or clauses.
• 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:‘Fortunately your papa appreciates it; he appreciates it immensely’—that was one of the things Miss Overmore also said, with a striking insistence on the adverb.
• (modifying a verb) I often went outside hiking during my stay in Japan.
• (modifying an adjective) It was often cold outside.
• (modifying another adverb) Not often.

Usage notes

Adverbs comprise a fundamental category of words in most languages. In English, adverbs are typically formed from adjectives by appending -ly and are used to modify verbs, verb phrases, adjectives, other adverbs, and entire sentences, but not nouns or noun phrases.

Derived terms

• adverbial
• adverbially
• conjunctive adverb
• pronominal adverb

Anagrams

• braved