sharply

sharply — adverb

1. describing a change that takes place very fast and often involves a big differen

1.adverbB1
Definition

describing a change that takes place very fast and often involves a big difference in numbers, direction, or physical state.

Example

Oil prices rose sharply after the storm hit the Gulf.

verb of change + sharply (increase)

The road turned sharply to the left just past the old bridge.

sharply + direction verb

Common collocations
  • rise sharply
  • fall sharply
  • drop sharply
  • increase sharply
  • decrease sharply
  • turn sharply
  • slow sharply
Synonyms
  • dramatically

    emphasises the surprising scale of the change

  • steeply

    suggests a near-vertical line on a graph, usually for prices or slopes

  • abruptly

    focuses on the suddenness rather than the amount of change

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

sharply + verb of change

verb + sharply

Usage Note

Commonly paired with verbs of measurable change: rise, fall, drop, increase, decrease, turn, slow. The change is almost always physical or numerical; this sense does NOT describe the tone or manner of a person.

Common Mistakes

He spoke sharply about the budget cuts.' (when meaning severe/angry).
Profits fell sharply last quarter.
Sense 1 is for sudden numerical or physical change; angry speech belongs to sense 3.

2. describing how a sharp blade, edge, or point cuts or pierces through a surface c

2.adverbB1
Definition

describing how a sharp blade, edge, or point cuts or pierces through a surface cleanly — for example, a knife slicing through a ripe tomato.

Example

The knife cut through the ripe tomato sharply, leaving a clean slice.

cut + sharply (physical cutting)

Defne trimmed the edges sharply with a brand-new pair of scissors.

Common collocations
  • cut sharply
  • trim sharply
  • pierce sharply
  • slice sharply
Synonyms
  • cleanly

    focuses on the neatness of the cut, not the sharpness of the blade

  • nearly

    emphasises the precision of the result, not the action

Antonyms
  • dully

    in a blunt way that does not cut cleanly

Grammar Patterns

verb + sharply

Usage Note

Typically modifies physical-action verbs: cut, trim, slice, pierce. The subject is usually a tool (knife, blade, scissors) or a person using one. Not used for metaphorical 'cuts' like budget cuts.

3. in a way that shows disapproval, harshness, or anger — especially when speaking

3.adverbB2
Definition

in a way that shows disapproval, harshness, or anger — especially when speaking to or about someone.

Example

The judge spoke sharply to the lawyer who had interrupted the trial.

speak sharply to [sb]

Nellie's mother asked sharply why no one had called to say they would be late.

ask sharply

Common collocations
  • speak sharply
  • ask sharply
  • reply sharply
  • criticize sharply
  • complain sharply
Synonyms
  • harshly

    focuses on the unpleasantness of the tone rather than the anger

  • sternly

    implies authority and seriousness more than anger

  • curtly

    suggests the speech is both short and rude

Antonyms
  • gently

    soft and kind in tone

  • mildly

    without strong emotion or criticism

Grammar Patterns

verb + sharply

Usage Note

Describes the tone or manner of speech, not the content. The verbs it pairs with are verbs of communication: speak, say, ask, reply, criticize, complain. The opposite of 'sharply' in this sense is 'gently' or 'softly'.

4. used to describe how two or more things are clearly different from each other, e

4.adverbB2
Definition

used to describe how two or more things are clearly different from each other, especially in appearance, opinion, or situation.

Example

The new building's glass design contrasted sharply with the old brick houses around it.

contrast sharply with [noun]

Voters were sharply divided on the issue of school funding.

sharply divided

Common collocations
  • contrast sharply with
  • sharply divided
  • differ sharply
  • sharply split
Synonyms
  • markedly

    emphasises that the difference is easy to notice

  • strikingly

    suggests the difference grabs your attention

  • clearly

    more general; lacks the sense of opposition that 'sharply' carries

Antonyms
  • barely

    differences are so small they are hard to notice

Grammar Patterns

contrast sharply with [noun]

be sharply divided

differ sharply

Usage Note

Almost always appears with verbs of comparison or disagreement: contrast, differ, divide, split. Can describe visual contrasts (colours, styles) as well as opinion-based divisions (voters, critics).

5. in a way that shows a stylish, smart, and neat appearance — used especially to d

5.adverbB2
Definition

in a way that shows a stylish, smart, and neat appearance — used especially to describe the way someone dresses.

Example

Ramon arrived at the party sharply dressed in a navy suit and polished shoes.

sharply dressed — informal, US usage

The groom and his best man both dressed sharply for the wedding ceremony.

Common collocations
  • dress sharply
  • sharply dressed
Synonyms
  • smartly

    UK equivalent; more formal, same meaning

  • stylishly

    broader — describes any fashionable look, not just neat/formal

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

dress + sharply

look + sharply dressed

Usage Note

This sense is informal and predominantly American. It almost exclusively pairs with 'dress' or 'dressed'. Avoid using it with other verbs ('looks sharply' sounds unnatural). Does NOT mean 'in a way that cuts' — a common learner confusion.

Common Mistakes

He dressed sharply for the cold weather.' (meaning in warm layers).
He dressed sharply for the job interview.
'Sharply dressed' means fashionable and neat, not warm or practical.

6. in a way that shows quick, intelligent understanding and the ability to notice s

6.adverbC1
Definition

in a way that shows quick, intelligent understanding and the ability to notice small details that others might miss.

Example

Cole looked sharply at the photograph and spotted the forged signature immediately.

look sharply at [sth] (keen observation)

Sirin looked sharply at the chess board and saw a winning move her opponent had missed.

look sharply at [sth] (keen observation)

Common collocations
  • look sharply at
  • question sharply
  • observe sharply
  • note sharply
Synonyms
  • keenly

    suggests enthusiasm plus alertness

  • astutely

    emphasises wise, practical understanding

  • perceptively

    focuses on the ability to see what others miss

Antonyms
  • dully

    slow to understand or notice

  • vaguely

    without clear awareness or comprehension

Grammar Patterns

verb + sharply

Usage Note

Describes mental quickness — a sharp look, sharp question, or sharp observation. Distinguish from sense 3 (angry/critical): sense 6 highlights intelligence and alertness, not hostility. A 'sharp question' in this sense is incisive; in sense 3 it would be rude.

Common Mistakes

She looked sharply at the rude waiter.' (meaning angrily, which is sense 3).
She looked sharply at the receipt and found the error.
Sense 6 is about noticing details, not expressing anger.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All four words describe change, but each emphasises a different quality. 'Sharply' suggests a sudden, clear change — often one that is easy to see on a graph (prices rose sharply). 'Dramatically' adds a sense of surprise or impressiveness (the landscape changed dramatically). 'Steeply' describes the angle of the change, as if on a slope (taxes rose steeply). 'Abruptly' focuses on suddenness, especially an unplanned stop or turn (the conversation ended abruptly). When talking about prices or statistics, 'sharply' is the most neutral and factual choice; 'dramatically' adds emotion; 'steeply' adds a visual image; 'abruptly' adds a sense of interruption. Example: 'Sales dropped sharply in March, then recovered just as dramatically in April.'

sharply ↗dramatically ↗steeply ↗abruptly ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • sharp rise
  • sharp drop
  • sharp contrast
  • sharp criticism
  • sharp turn

Prepositions

  • sharply with (contrast)
  • sharply at (look, turn)

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The adverb 'sharply' comes from the Old English word 'scearp' (meaning having a cutting edge), which evolved into Middle English 'sharp' and then gained the adverbial '-ly' suffix. The word has kept its original connection to cutting edges while expanding into metaphorical domains: sudden changes (like a sharp turn), harsh speech (like a sharp tongue), clear contrasts (like a sharp image), stylish appearance (like a sharp suit), and keen intelligence (like a sharp mind).