Meaning & use
to a large degree
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Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
mostly, or in most important ways; used to say that something is true in a great part but not completely.
Grammar: Acts as an adverb, usually placed after the verb or at the end of the clause: The result depends on luck to a large degree.
Patterns
- something depends on something to a large degree
- to a large degree, ...
- something is true to a large degree
Whether the project succeeds depends on the weather to a large degree.
To a large degree, her calm manner made the interview go well.
The two dialects are similar to a large degree, though the vowels differ.
phrasefixed phraseformal
used before a clause to admit that a claim is largely, but not entirely, correct.
Grammar: Often starts a sentence and is followed by a comma, like 'To a large degree, ...'.
Patterns
- to a large degree, clause
To a large degree, what we remember is shaped by what we expect.
To a large degree, the criticism was fair, though the tone was harsh.
Common combinations
- depend on something to a large degree
- Farmers depend on rain to a large degree.
- to a large degree responsible
- She was to a large degree responsible for the redesign.
- to a large degree true
- What he says is to a large degree true.
- to a large degree determined by
- Prices are to a large degree determined by supply.
Synonyms and how they differ
- largely
- A single adverb with the same meaning that sounds neater in the middle of a sentence: largely determined by supply.
- mostly
- More informal and more common in speech, and it can suggest 'almost all' rather than 'in important ways'.
- to a great extent
- A close, equally formal alternative; 'great' makes the claim a little stronger than 'large'.
Opposites
Word family
- degree noun
- The amount or level of something.
- to some degree phrase
- A weaker version meaning 'partly'.
Commonly confused: to a large degree or to a degree?
to a large degree vs to a degree
'To a degree' alone means only 'partly' and is weaker; adding 'large' makes the claim much stronger.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
'To a large degree' is a fixed phrase meaning 'mostly', so it stands alone as an adverb. 'In a large degree' is not the fixed form, and dropping 'a' ('to large degree') is also wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “to a large degree”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.