liberally

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'liberally' is a correct and commonly used word in written English.
It can be used both as an adverb and an adjective, meaning in a generous or abundant manner, or in a political context, promoting individual liberties and progressive ideas. Example: "He sprinkled sugar liberally over his pancakes." "The liberal candidate proposed new policies to protect civil liberties and promote equality." "The company's CEO had a liberally minded approach to employee benefits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Use your hands to shape and roll it into a sausage shape, making sure it is liberally coated with coconut.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Geological features have proved no match for dynamite and concrete, which are being liberally deployed to make way for the burgeoning number of visitors.

The Guardian - Arts

Here, ritualistically garbed in Arab clothing, they drank strong coffee, liberally laced with hashish, which Moreau called dawamesk, in the Arabic manner.

The Guardian - Books

It must be provided … liberally, enabling the people to use it as they wish, like the air which they breathe".

The Guardian

As long as academics still get to determine freely what their subjects contain and deliver, and managers ensure that academics are allowed the space to do so, then university life will still be liberally successful.

The Guardian

Like Paul Ryan's book, it is liberally seasoned with right-wing buzzwords: liberty, freedom, jobs, competition, values.

The Guardian - Opinion

Use a silicone pastry brush to spread the top of each biscuit liberally with the melted chocolate.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Peter Schweizer – whose book scrutinizing donations to the Clinton Foundation has earned sharp rebukes from Hillary Clinton's campaign and liberally aligned groups – confirmed on Thursday plans to investigate Bush's past financial dealings.

The Guardian

The news that money and credit cards are liberally covered with faecal bacteria didn't surprise me.

The Guardian - Opinion

It quoted liberally from Senator John McCain, himself a victim of torture in Vietnam, who told the Senate: This question isn't about our enemies; it's about us.

The Guardian

The team extracted these, cultured them and then used a special growth factor to persuade them to spin off chondrocytes.Both epithelial cells and chondrocytes were applied liberally to the treated trachea and the result, when it had settled down into something that resembled a natural windpipe, was transplanted into Ms Castillo.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "liberally" to emphasize a generous or abundant application of something, whether it's a physical substance or a less tangible resource like time or praise.

Common error

While "liberally" is widely accepted, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Consider more precise synonyms depending on the context to maintain clarity and conciseness.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "liberally" functions primarily as a manner adverb, modifying verbs to describe how an action is performed. As shown in Ludwig's examples, it specifies that an action is carried out in a generous, abundant, or unrestricted way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "liberally" is a versatile adverb indicating abundance, generosity, or a permissive approach. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in news and media contexts. While generally neutral in register, overuse in formal writing should be avoided. Consider synonyms like "generously" or "abundantly" for nuance. Whether you're describing the application of a resource or a political stance, understanding the appropriate usage of "liberally" will enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

generously

Indicates a willingness to give more than necessary or expected.

abundantly

Highlights the plentiful or copious nature of something.

profusely

Emphasizes an excessive or extravagant amount.

lavishly

Implies extravagance and richness in application or provision.

freely

Suggests a lack of restriction or constraint in usage.

copiously

Similar to abundantly, but often implies a flowing or overflowing quality.

plentifully

Highlights the sufficient or surplus amount available.

openhandedly

Emphasizes the generosity and willingness to share.

without reservation

Implies a complete lack of hesitation or constraint.

with a free hand

Suggests unrestricted authority or permission to act.

FAQs

How can I use "liberally" in a sentence?

Use "liberally" to describe something done in a generous or abundant manner. For example, "He sprinkled salt "liberally" on his food" or "The company invested "liberally" in research and development".

What are some alternatives to using "liberally"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "generously", "abundantly", or "freely" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to use "liberally" to describe political views?

Yes, but in that context, "liberally" typically modifies "aligned", "minded", or similar terms to describe someone who holds liberal political views. For example: "liberally minded".

What's the difference between "liberally" and "generously"?

"Liberally" emphasizes abundance or a lack of restraint in using something, while "generously" highlights the act of giving or sharing in a plentiful manner. They are similar but not always interchangeable.