incredibly
UK: ɪnˈkredəbli | US: ɪnˈkredəbli
adv. to an extraordinary degree; extremely
adv. in a manner that is difficult to believe
incredibly = in<not> + cred<believe> + ibly<adverb suffix>
- in (prefix): From Latin in-, meaning "not" or "opposite of."
- cred (root): From Latin credere, meaning "to believe" or "trust."
- ibly (suffix): Variant of -ably, from Latin -abilis, forming adverbs meaning "in a manner that can be [root]."
Etymology Origin:
The word incredibly traces back to Latin incredibilis, combining in- (not) + credibilis (believable). The root cred appears in many English words related to belief (e.g., credit, credible). Over time, -ibly evolved as an adverbial suffix, turning the adjective incredible into an adverb meaning "unbelievably" or "extremely."
The mountain was incredibly steep, making the climb challenging.
She sang incredibly well, leaving the audience in awe.
The story was incredibly detailed, almost like a documentary.
He ran incredibly fast, breaking the school record.
The dessert tasted incredibly sweet, almost too much so.