emotionally
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪmˈəʊʃənəli/
US
- /ˈiˌmoʊʃnəli/
- /ɪˈmoʊʃnəli/
Description
- in terms of feelings
- with strong feeling
- in an inner way
- in a way that affects feelings
"Emotionally" describes something in terms of feelings rather than the body, money, or practical facts. It is often used when talking about how someone reacts inside, how deeply they care, or how a situation affects their state of mind. A painful memory can hurt someone emotionally, a song can move them emotionally, and a long period of stress can leave them emotionally drained. You also see it in phrases like "emotionally attached" or "emotionally ready," where it shows that feelings play a big part. In simple terms, it points to the inner side of an experience: what a person feels, carries, or expresses inside.
"Emotionally" is an adverb about feelings, moods, and a person's inner state. It tells you that something happens on the level of feeling: how someone reacts, connects, suffers, heals, or expresses what is going on inside. While words like "physically" talk about the body and "financially" talk about money, "emotionally" points to the world of feeling.
It is common in many everyday patterns. If someone is "emotionally attached," they care deeply and may find it hard to let go. If they are "emotionally ready," they feel prepared in their heart and mind, not just on paper. A person can be "emotionally affected" by bad news, "emotionally exhausted" after a hard week, or "emotionally supported" by a close friend. A film, speech, or memory can also affect someone emotionally, meaning it creates a strong feeling inside them.
It can describe both temporary reactions and deeper patterns. Saying someone "reacted emotionally" often suggests that their feelings led the moment more than calm reasoning did. Saying two people are "emotionally close" suggests a deep bond. In discussions of health and relationships, it often points to mental and personal well-being: a person might feel emotionally safe, emotionally distant, or emotionally stable. Overall, "emotionally" helps describe the feeling side of life, from quick reactions to deep personal connection.
Examples
- 1
After an argument
After the argument, she felt emotionally exhausted.
- 2
Decision readiness
I'm not emotionally ready to make that decision yet.
- 3
Personal attachment
Kids can become emotionally attached to a blanket or stuffed animal.
Pattern
emotionally attached to + person/thing
feeling a strong personal bond with them or it
- 4
Social distance
He stayed emotionally distant from his coworkers.
- 5
Breakup pain
The breakup was emotionally hard on both of them.
Pattern
hard on + someone
difficult or painful for them
- 6
Personal investment
By the end of the interview, she was emotionally invested in the story.
Pattern
invested in + something
caring deeply about it
- 7
Work demands
Some jobs are emotionally demanding even when they are not physically tiring.
- 8
Strong atmosphere
The speech was emotionally charged, and the room went quiet.
Phrase
emotionally charged
full of strong feelings
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- emotionallyadverb