Cool MateConsiderably vs Greatly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Considerably
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adverb
Greatly
Top 2,000 (common)B2adverb
Most common: Considerably
| Considerably | Greatly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈsɪdərəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈsɪdərəbli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈɡreɪtli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈɡreɪtli/"]/ |
| Meaning | A lot; to a great extent. | a lot or very much |
| Example | The need for sleep varies considerably from person to person. | People's reaction to the film has varied greatly. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | considerably higher, considerably lower, considerably improved, considerably more, considerably better | greatly improve, greatly appreciate, greatly enhance, greatly affect |
| Antonyms | slightly, marginally, insignificantly, minimally | slightly, partially, minimally |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'consider' which means to think about something., Using 'considerably' without an adjective/adverb to modify., Misplacing 'considerably' in a sentence, affecting the meaning. | Using 'greatly' incorrectly with nouns instead of verbs or adjectives., Confusing 'greatly' with 'great' as an adjective., Overusing 'greatly' in informal settings. |
| Usage notes | Use 'considerably' in more formal contexts, such as reports or academic writing. It may not be suitable for very casual conversations. | Use 'greatly' to emphasize the extent of a feeling, action, or quality, especially in formal contexts. Avoid in casual conversations where simpler words like 'really' might fit better. |
Frequently asked questions: Considerably vs Greatly
What's the difference between Considerably and Greatly?
Considerably: A lot; to a great extent. Greatly: a lot or very much
Which is more common: Considerably and Greatly?
Considerably is the most common in everyday English.
Are Considerably and Greatly the same CEFR level?
Considerably: B2, Greatly: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Considerably and Greatly interchangeably?
Not always. Considerably and Greatly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.