uniquely

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   In a way that belongs to one person, thing or group only and to nobody else.

   Grammar: Often placed before an adjective like suited or human: uniquely suited, uniquely human.

   Patterns

   • uniquely suited to something
   • uniquely human

   Her voice is uniquely her own.

   Language is a uniquely human ability.

   This beetle is uniquely adapted to cold water.

2. 2adverbnot comparable

   In an unusual or especially remarkable way, as a way of stressing a difference.

   Grammar: Works as an intensifier before adjectives: a uniquely difficult task.

   Patterns

   • uniquely + adjective

   The city is uniquely beautiful at dawn.

   It was a uniquely difficult year for the company.

   He is uniquely gifted with children.

Common combinations

uniquely qualified

She is uniquely qualified for this job.

uniquely positioned

The firm is uniquely positioned to lead the market.

uniquely human

Laughter is not uniquely human.

uniquely identify

A passport number uniquely identifies each traveler.

uniquely suited

The soil is uniquely suited to growing grapes.

Synonyms and how they differ

distinctively

Distinctively means in a way that sets something apart, but it does not claim there is nothing else like it.

exclusively

Exclusively means for one group only and no one else, so it is about restriction, while uniquely is about being one of a kind.

singularly

Singularly is more formal and often means remarkably, as in singularly gifted.

Opposites

Word family

unique adjective

being the only one of its kind

uniqueness noun

the quality of being one of a kind

uniquify verb

computing jargon meaning to make each item unique

Commonly confused: uniquely or unequally?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “uniquely”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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