partly

Partly is an adverb that indicates something is true to a limited extent, not completely. It is used to qualify adjectives, verbs, or whole clauses, signaling that only a portion of a situation applies. For example, a sky can be partly cloudy, a statement can be partly true, and a project can be partly funded by a government.

In usage, partly typically appears directly before the word it modifies, as in partly cloudy, partly finished, or partly due to weather. It can also introduce a cause or explanation at the start of a clause, as in Partly because of the rain, the event was delayed. It can modify verbs as well, as in The findings are partly explained by the new data.

Etymology and related forms: partly is formed from the noun part with the adverbial suffix -ly. The noun part itself comes from older Germanic and Romance sources, with cognates across related languages. Related forms include partially (a more formal adverb), partial (an adjective), and part (a noun). The word partly is often preferred in everyday language when the degree of partiality is moderate, while partially may be chosen for a more formal tone or precise emphasis.

Usage notes: partly conveys partiality without implying a precise fraction. It can pair with degree words (partly enough, partly worse) but more often stands alone with adjectives or verbs. Synonyms include partially, somewhat, to some extent; antonyms include completely, wholly, entirely.