partially
Americanadverb
-
to some degree or in some way or aspect, but not fully or totally; incompletely.
Season three of the sci-fi series would have taken place either partially or completely on Mars.
-
in a way that is biased or prejudiced in favor of one group, side, person, etc., over another.
He did not judge partially, he said, but claimed to mete out justice equally to rich and poor alike.
Other Word Forms
- nonpartially adverb
- overpartially adverb
Etymology
Origin of partially
Explanation
Partially means part way, not complete. If you’ve partially completed a test when the bell rings, you better work faster to finish up next time! A part is a portion of something, not the whole thing. Similarly, the word partially refers to a part of something only. A partially brick house is not all brick. Anything that is partially true is only true to some degree, like if you tell someone you’re in a band, but really you just carry the guitars. This word means about the same as partly, and the opposite word would be wholly or entirely.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some customers in Europe purchased their cars at least partially because of the company’s and Musk’s promises related to self-driving.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026
But this was partially down to customers placing extra orders to build stocks and secure purchases ahead of possible future price rises and supply shortages, the survey said.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
American expects continued strong travel demand and moves to “recapture elevated fuel prices” — which would suggest fare increases — to partially offset higher fuel costs.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026
Software will have to be deducted partially, but in line with the rules already followed by European Union-supervised banks.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026
One of them is a banty hen we call Hawk, and since she is at least partially a creature of the woods it might be proper to tell about her here.
From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
