Partially
/ˈpɑːrʃəli/
Definitions
To a certain degree or extent; not wholly or completely.
/ˈpɑːrʃəli/
To some extent, but not completely
The house was partially damaged in the fire.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're eating a pizza. If you only eat some slices and leave the rest, you've partially eaten it! It means not all of it, but some.
👶 For kids: When something is done a little bit, but not all the way.
More Examples
The project was only partially funded.
He agreed partially to the terms of the contract.
How It's Used
"The report was only partially completed due to budget cuts."
"The company's success was partially due to its innovative marketing strategies."
"The damage was only partially reversible with the new treatment."
From Middle English 'partially', derived from 'partial' + '-ly'. 'Partial' itself comes from Old French 'parcial', ultimately from Latin 'pars' (part).
Used consistently since the Middle Ages to describe incomplete states or actions. Its use has remained fairly consistent in meaning.
Memory tip
Think of dividing a whole into parts; partially means only a section of the whole.