considérablement

Considérablement is a French adverb meaning to a considerable extent or significantly. It is used to indicate that an action, a change, or a quality occurs to a large degree. It commonly modifies verbs, as in Les coûts ont considérablement augmenté, and can also modify adjectives or participles to emphasize extent, for example une valeur considérablement plus élevée, a phrase frequently found in formal writing.

Formation and etymology: Considérablement is formed from the adjective considérable with the adverbial suffix -ment. The adjective considérable itself derives from Latin considerabilis, via Old French, and it carries the sense of something noteworthy or worthy of consideration. The adverb inherits this sense of degree and is invariable, with no gender or number to agree with.

Usage: The word is widely used in both formal and written French, including journalism, academic writing, and official discourse, though it also appears in spoken language. As an adverb, it generally follows the verb or appears close to the element it modifies, though French allows flexible placement for emphasis. Examples include Les ventes ont considérablement chuté and Le projet s’est considérablement amélioré.

Relation to other terms: Synonyms include énormément, grandement, largement, and to some extent plus fortement in certain contexts; antonyms include légèrement or peu. Considérablement is related to the adjective considéré and the verb considérer, from which its root meaning of "to consider" ultimately arises. It is a neutral to formal term appropriate for precise description of magnitude.