efficiently
/ɪˈfɪʃ.ənt.li/ IELTSAcademic
adverb
In a way that uses time, effort, or resources well, with little waste. It often describes work, systems, or actions that achieve good results quickly and neatly.
- She works efficiently and finishes early.
- The new system runs more efficiently.
- We need to use our time efficiently.
Adinary Nuance
Efficiently is about getting a good result with little waste. It is not the same as quickly, because something can be fast but still wasteful. It is also not exactly effectively: effectively means 'with success', while efficiently means 'with good use of effort or resources'.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- một cách hiệu quả
- Spanish
- eficientemente
- Chinese
- 高效地
- Japanese
- 効率的に
- Korean
- 효율적으로
Etymology
Efficiently comes from efficient, which entered English from Latin efficientem, meaning 'producing' or 'accomplishing'. The adverb form developed in English from the adjective.
Common phrases
work efficientlyrun efficientlyuse time efficientlymanage resources efficiently
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is efficiently formal or informal?
- It is neutral to slightly formal. It is common in business, study, and writing.
- What is the difference between efficiently and effectively?
- Efficiently means with little waste. Effectively means with a good result.
- Can I use efficiently in daily conversation?
- Yes. People use it in everyday speech, especially about work and time.