5 syllables: com, pre, hen, sive, ly. Stress on hen.
kahm-prih-EN-siv-lee
/ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnsɪvli/
comprehensively is pronounced kahm-prih-EN-siv-lee (/ˌkɑmpɹɪˈhɛnsɪvli/). It has five syllables (com-pre-hen-sive-ly), with the stress on "hen". Comprehensively means in a thorough, all-encompassing way, covering all aspects or details. It implies examining or presenting something with complete scope and depth, leaving little out. The term is often used in formal or academic writing to indicate breadth of consideration and analysis.
Comprehensively means in a thorough, all-encompassing way, covering all aspects or details. It implies examining or presenting something with complete scope and depth, leaving little out. The term is often used in formal or academic writing to indicate breadth of consideration and analysis.
- You may drop or blur the middle syllable: keep /ˈhen/ clearly stressed and avoid collapsing /hen.sɪ/ into /hɛn.si/ or /hɛn.sɪ/ with too-short vowels. Practice by isolating /ˈhen/ with a firm vowel; then add the preceding /prə/ softly but distinctly. - Over-tensing the initial /k/ or misplacing the primary stress on the first or second syllable. Remember: primary stress is on the third syllable: com-pri-ˈhen-siv-ly; the first two syllables remain light, not heavily stressed. - Vowel quality in /ɪ/ vs /ɛ/ can drift due to rapid speech. Focus on a crisp /ɪ/ in /prɪ/ and an accurate /ɛ/ in /ˈhen/; avoid turning /hen/ into /hən/ or /hen/ with reduced clarity. - The -ively ending can be swallowed; keep /ˈhen.səv.li/ with clear /sə/ and /v/ before /li/ to avoid a v-li blend.
"The report surveys the topic comprehensively, addressing history, current trends, and future implications."
"She reviewed the policy comprehensively, noting potential pitfalls and unintended consequences."
"The textbook explains the theory comprehensively before moving to practical applications."
Say /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.səv.li/ (UK) or /ˌkɑːm.prəˈhɛn.səv.li/ (US). Primary stress is on the third syllable (hen). Start with /kɒm/ or /kɑːm/, then a light /prə/ or /prɪ/, then /ˈhen/ (or /ˈhɛn/), a reduced /sə/ or /sə/ before /v.li/. Think: “com-prə-HEN-səv-lee.” For Australian, keep US-like rhotics but with slightly tighter vowel quality in /ɪ/ vs /ɛ/ distinctions.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (placing emphasis on com- or -sive), mispronouncing the middle /hen/ as /hɛn/ instead of a clear /ˈhen/ sound, and rushing the /səv/ cluster so /ˈsəv/ becomes /sv/ or /zəv/. Correct by marking the primary stress on the third syllable, ensuring a short, clear /prə/ before /ˈhen/, and articulating /səv/ as an unstressed, light cluster before /li/.
US: rhotic /r/ absent in
The difficulty stems from the length (five syllables), the secondary sequence /ˌkɒm.prɪ/ before the stressed /ˈhen/ syllable, the /səv/ cluster, and the final /li/ which can blur in rapid speech. Accurate articulation requires maintaining distinct vowels in each syllable and preserving stress placement across a long word.
The -ively ending requires preserving a light, unstressed /li/ at the end while not letting the preceding /v/ coalesce with the following /li/. Keep /-ɪv.li/ distinct, avoiding a slurred or swallowed /v/ before the final /li/ sound.
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US: rhotic /r/ is not present in this word, so focus on non-rhotic vowel colors in the affected sections; keep vowels tighter in /ɪ/ and /ɛ/ to avoid merging with /ə/. UK: maintain relaxed jaw but crisp /ˈhen/ with a clearer /e/ quality; emphasize non-rhoticity but ensure linking /prə/ to /ˈhen/. AU: similar to US but with slightly broader vowel space; ensure the /æ/ or /ɛ/ distinctions remain distinct rather than merging toward /ə/. IPA references: US /ˌkɑːm.prəˈhɛn.səv.li/, UK /ˌkɒm.prɪˈhen.sɪv.li/, AU /ˌkɒm.prəˈhen.səv.li/.
Comprehensively derives from the adjective comprehensive, itself from Latin comprehensus, past participle of comprehendere (to seize, grasp, understand) from com- (together) + prehendere (to seize, grasp). The suffix -ively forms adverbs from adjectives, indicating manner or extent. The sense evolved from “grasping all parts together” to “covering all parts,” and in English usage, comprehensively emerged in the 19th century as a formal, scholarly modifier indicating complete scope. First known uses appear in academic criticism and legal writing, where authors emphasized holistic analysis. Over time, the word accrued the nuance of systematic, all-inclusive consideration, often paired with nouns like report, review, analysis, study, or examination to denote breadth and depth. In modern usage, it signals meticulous coverage across domains, dimensions, or components, not just a broad but a richly detailed treatment.
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Words that rhyme with "comprehensively"
-tly sounds
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