Basic Details
Word: Partly
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: To some extent, but not completely.
Synonyms: partially, somewhat, in part
Antonyms: completely, wholly, fully, entirely
How to Spell Partly
Syllables: part - ly
Tricky part: The t of part stays and ly is added straight after it, with no e.
Watch out for: partely, partley, parttly
Memory tip: Partly means in part, so begin with the word part and add ly.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The sky is partly cloudy this morning.
Example 2: I was partly to blame for the broken vase.
Example 3: The old fort is partly hidden by trees.
Fun Fact
Weather forecasters use partly cloudy and partly sunny for skies with only some cloud, and in many places the two mean almost exactly the same thing.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word partly as it is used in the sentence:
The road was partly blocked by a fallen neem tree.
a) slightly
b) somewhat
c) completely
d) partially
Show answer
c) completely. A road that is partly blocked still lets some traffic through; a completely blocked one lets none.
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The new bridge over the river is partley finished, but the engineers expect heavy traffic on it before the monsoon arrives next June.
a) partley
b) traffic
c) engineers
d) finished
Show answer
a) partley. After part comes ly, with no e in between.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. mostley 2. barly 3. partly 4. nearlly
a) almost
b) mainly; most of the time
c) in part, but not completely
d) only just; almost not
Show answer
c) in part, but not completely. Barely keeps the e of bare, mostly has no e before ly, and nearly has one l; partly is the only one written right.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A glass that is partly full is ____.
a) completely empty
b) full to the very top
c) neither empty nor full to the top
d) broken at the rim
Show answer
c) neither empty nor full to the top
2. Which words could replace partly in: The film was partly shot in Ladakh?
a) in part
b) entirely
c) only once
d) never
Show answer
a) in part
