Meaning & use
biblically
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a way that follows, relates to or is described in the Bible.
Grammar: Often modifies an adjective or verb: biblically accurate; biblically based.
Patterns
- biblically accurate
- biblically based
The preacher said the teaching was biblically sound.
The film is not biblically accurate, but it tells the story well.
She tried to live biblically, following the teachings closely.
adverbnot comparableinformalhumorous
Used informally to mean in an extreme, huge or dramatic way, as if on the scale of events in the Bible.
Grammar: Informal and exaggerating: biblically bad; it rained biblically.
It rained biblically all weekend and the roads flooded.
The traffic was biblically bad on Friday evening.
The queue for the new phone was biblically long.
Common combinations
- biblically accurate
- The costumes were not biblically accurate.
- biblically sound
- The pastor's advice was biblically sound.
- biblically speaking
- Biblically speaking, the story has many meanings.
- biblically based
- Their law is biblically based.
- rain biblically
- It rained biblically during the trip.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scripturally
- Is more formal and can refer to any holy scripture, not just the Bible.
- religiously
- Means in a devoted way, not necessarily about the Bible.
- epically
- Is a slang intensifier that lacks the Bible reference but carries a similar sense of scale.
- apocalyptically
- Is more dramatic and suggests disaster or the end of the world.
Word family
Commonly confused: biblically or biblical?
biblically vs biblical
Is the adjective; biblically is the adverb describing how something is done.
Practice
It rained ____ yesterday, and the streets looked like rivers.
Choose one answer.
An adverb is needed to describe how it rained; 'biblical' is an adjective and the other forms are not adverbs.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “biblically”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.