Meaning & use
sensorily
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Meanings
adverbnot comparabletechnical
In a way that relates to the senses, such as sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell.
Grammar: Modifies a verb or adjective: sensorily rich.
Patterns
- sensorily rich
- sensorily stimulating
The market is sensorily overwhelming, full of smells and sounds.
The room was sensorily calm, with soft light and no noise.
Babies learn sensorily, by touching and tasting.
adverbnot comparablespecialist
By means of the sensory organs or nerves, as opposed to thought.
Grammar: Used in scientific writing.
Patterns
- sensorily perceived
The signal was sensorily detected by the skin.
Pain can be sensorily recorded before it is understood.
Some fish sensorily detect changes in water pressure.
Common combinations
- sensorily rich
- The garden is sensorily rich and full of scent.
- sensorily overwhelming
- For some children, a loud mall is sensorily overwhelming.
- sensorily deprived
- The experiment left subjects sensorily deprived.
- sensorily aware
- Meditation made her sensorily aware of small sounds.
Synonyms and how they differ
- through the senses
- Through the senses is the plain phrase and is easier for general readers.
- perceptually
- Perceptually concerns how we interpret what we sense, whereas sensorily concerns the sensing itself.
- physically
- Physically is much wider and does not point to the senses.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: sensorily or sensually?
sensorily vs sensually
Sensually means in a way that gives physical pleasure, often suggestively; sensorily simply concerns the senses.
Practice
The museum's new gallery is designed to be ___ engaging, with sounds, textures and scents.
Choose one answer.
Sensorily relates to the senses in general. Sensually has a pleasure or romantic meaning, and sensibly and sensitively mean something else.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sensorily”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.