Cheaply
/ˈtʃiːpli/
Definitions
2 meaningsIn a manner that costs little money.
/ˈtʃiːpli/
At a low price; inexpensively.
She bought the shoes cheaply online.
💡 Simply: Imagine finding a toy you really wanted, but it only costs a little bit of money. That's what cheaply means – getting something for a low price.
👶 For kids: Getting something for not much money!
More Examples
They produced the goods cheaply using cheaper materials.
How It's Used
"I bought this dress cheaply at a clearance sale."
"The company aimed to produce the product cheaply to maximize profit margins."
In a way that shows lack of quality or value.
/ˈtʃiːpli/
In a mean or inferior manner.
The work was done cheaply and poorly.
💡 Simply: If something is done cheaply, it might be done in a hurried, sloppy way that doesn't look or feel very good.
👶 For kids: Done in a not-so-good way.
More Examples
He tried to get the job done cheaply but it backfired.
How It's Used
"He tried to cheaply imitate the famous artist's style."
From "cheap" + "-ly", an adverbial suffix. The word 'cheap' itself has Old English roots, evolving from words meaning 'barter' or 'exchange'.
The usage of 'cheaply' to mean 'in a mean or inferior manner' has existed for centuries, but its connotation is still often negative.
Memory tip
Think 'cheap' + 'ly' – it's how you do things when you're saving money!