Experimentally means relating to or based on experiments or controlled observations designed to test a hypothesis. It characterizes something done in an experimental manner, often emphasizing empirical testing and verification. The term is commonly used in scientific writing to indicate methods, results, or conclusions drawn from systematic experimentation.
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- US: pronounce the final 'ly' as /li/ with a soft 'l' and a clear /i/. - UK: maintain crisp articulation of /t/ and a slightly shorter final syllable /liə/ or /li/. - AU: may have a slightly more centralized /ə/ in unstressed syllables; keep the main stress on 'MEN' and finish with a light /li/.
"The team evaluated the new drug experimentally to determine its efficacy before wider trials."
"Experimentally, the researchers varied the temperature to observe its effect on reaction rate."
"The theory was tested experimentally, with measurements taken at multiple time points."
"During the workshop, students practiced the procedure experimentally to understand potential variables."
Experimentally derives from the noun experiment, which traces to the Latin experimentum meaning 'a trial, test, or prove.' Experiment originates from Latin ex- 'out' plus per- 'to try/attempt' (via the verb experiri 'to try, to test'). The suffix -ment is from French -ment, forming nouns that denote action or result. The adverbial -ally comes from the combining form -al + -ly, used to form adverbs from adjectives and nouns. The first known uses of experiment date to the 15th century in English, with scientific usage expanding in the 17th–18th centuries as empirical methods emerged. By the 19th century, experiment/experimentally became standard in scientific discourse, signaling evidence gathered through controlled procedures rather than theory alone. Over time, the word also saw broader adoption in general language to describe approaches that rely on systematic testing, trials, or controlled observations rather than mere conjecture.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "experimentally" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "experimentally" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "experimentally"
-lly sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronounced /ˌɪk.spə.rɪˈmen.tə.li/ (US/UK). Primary stress lands on the third syllable 'men'. Start with a light 'ik' + schwa in 'spə', then 'ri' as a short 'ri' and a clear 'men' with /mɛn/ before a soft 'tə' and ending 'li'. Practice by saying: ik-sper-i-MEN-tuh-lee, and use slow-to-fast pacing to lock the rhythm.
Two frequent errors: (1) stressing the wrong syllable, often placing emphasis on 'ex' or 'spə' instead of 'men'; (2) blending 'men' and 'tally' into 'mentaly' or 'men-tuh-lee' with an unclear 't' sound. Correction: keep the primary stress on 'MEN' and clearly articulate the 't' as a separate, light consonant before the final 'ly'. Use a slow articulation of 'men' /mɛn/ and ensure the 't' is released, not swallowed.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌɪk.spə.rɪˈmen.təli/ with a rhotic influence and lighter /ə/ in the second syllable. UK English tends to a slightly tighter 't' and a crisper final syllable, /ˌɪk.spə.rɪˈmen.tə.li/. Australian English may reduce the final syllables a touch and smooth the 'a' in 'tally' to /tə.li/ while maintaining the main stress on 'MEN'. Across accents, the main variability centers on the final '-ly' vowel quality and the consonant release of the 't'.
Difficult because it’s a multi-syllabic, stress-timed word with consecutive consonants and a non-stressful initial cluster. The challenge lies in maintaining the secondary stresses and the strong primary stress on 'MEN', plus distinctly articulating the /t/ before the final /li/. Additionally, the sequence -men-t- can blur if you don’t separate the 't' from the following schwa or reduce the intervening vowels, making the word sound rushed.
Notable is the shift from the root 'experiment' to the adverbial form with -ally. The pronunciation must preserve a clear /ˌɪk.spə.rɪˈmen.tə.li/ through the syllables while ensuring the internal /t/ is released and the final /li/ is light. The shift from '-men-' to '-t-ally' requires keeping the 't' audible and avoiding a strong 'd' assimilation that sometimes occurs in rapid speech.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "experimentally"!
- Shadowing: listen to 10-second clips and repeat exactly, focusing on the primary stress on MEN. - Minimal pairs: practice with 'experimentally' vs 'experimental' to hear the extra syllables and stress. - Rhythm: tap a rhythm: 1-2-3-4 for syllables ik.spə.rɪ.MEN.tə.li. - Intonation: in sentences, keep a rising-falling pattern around the main verb phrase. - Stress practice: exaggerate the 'MEN' syllable slightly before returning to a light ending. - Recording: record yourself and compare with a reference; adjust pace to ensure clear /t/ release.
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