considerably

"Considerably" tells us how much something changes or exists—it means to a noticeable or important degree. Think of it like turning up the volume on a radio. If you turn it up just a little, the change is barely noticeable. But if you turn it up considerably, everyone in the room will hear the difference!

You might say someone's health improved "considerably" after taking medicine, meaning they got much better. Or, you might note that the price of gas increased "considerably" over the summer, meaning it went up a lot. It's often used when describing changes or amounts that are large enough to be important. For example, if you move to a new city, you might find that the rent is considerably higher than what you are used to, requiring a major change to your budget.

"Considerably" is an adverb that indicates something has changed, increased, or decreased in a significant and noticeable way. It's more than just "a little bit"; it implies a substantial difference. Think of it as stepping beyond mere change into the realm of a noticeable impact.

It comes from "considerable," which originally meant "worth thinking about" and is now often used to mean "large" or "important." So, when you say something has changed considerably, you're suggesting that the change is large enough to deserve attention.

You'll often find "considerably" used with verbs like improve, increase, decrease, differ, or affect. For example: "The weather improved considerably over the weekend," meaning it got much nicer. Or, "Her health has declined considerably in recent months," indicating a significant worsening of her condition.

It's also used to emphasize the degree to which an adjective is true. "He was considerably older than he looked" suggests a surprising difference between his appearance and actual age. "The task proved considerably more difficult than anticipated" means it was much harder than expected. Unlike some adverbs that simply add emotional emphasis, "considerably" implies a real, often measurable change. It's about a tangible difference in quantity or quality. So, when you want to highlight the true extent of a change, "considerably" is your word.