To a great or significant extent; in a way that is considerable in amount, degree, or importance. It indicates something large, solid, or meaningful in magnitude.
From Latin 'substantialis' meaning 'having substance', derived from 'substantia' (substance, essence). The English adverb emerged in the 15th century, initially carrying philosophical meaning about the essential nature of things, gradually shifting to emphasize size, amount, or degree by the 17th century.
Substantially carries the weight of both physical and metaphorical substance - it suggests not just 'a lot' but 'a lot that matters'. It's the difference between saying something increased 'significantly' (could be statistical) and 'substantially' (implies real-world impact), making it a favorite in business and policy contexts where magnitude matters.
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