Common Adverb Phrases

An adverb phrase is a group of words that serves the same purpose as an adverb. Here is a list of adverb phrases in common use. See also: What are adverb phrases?

Above all – before all other considerations

• Above all, be kind and honest.

Above board – straightforward

• All transactions must be above board.

After all – in spite of every fact to the contrary

• You should forgive him. After all, he is just a child.

Again and again / over and over again / time and again

• I have told you again and again not to enter my room without knocking.

All the same – nevertheless

• He was not the most deserving candidate. All the same, they hired him.

All of a sudden – suddenly

• It started raining all of a sudden.

At present – now

• At present, we have no vacancies.

As a matter of fact – in reality

• She doesn’t look more than 30. As a matter of fact, she is 45.

At any rate – in any case

• We have to win this match at any rate.

Before long – shortly / in a short time

• Before long, trouble started brewing.

By the way – incidentally

• By the way, Rohit and Ramya are getting married.

By far – by a great degree / amount

• He is by far the best candidate.

By no means – in no way

• He can, by no means, borrow my car.

Far and near – everywhere

• They searched for their cat far and near.

Far and wide – over a large area

• His fame spread far and wide.

First and foremost – before anything else

• She considered herself first and foremost a dancer.

For certain – certainly, definitely, without doubt

• I know for certain that he is lying.

From time to time – occasionally

• I visit them from time to time.

Little by little – gradually

• Their savings grew little by little

Not in the least – not at all

• She was not in the least affected by the news.

In every respect – in every way

• He is a gentleman in every respect.

Now and then – occasionally

Off and on – intermittently, not in a regular or continuous way

On the contrary – quite the opposite

On the whole – generally speaking

• On the whole, it is a good deal.

Sooner or later – eventually

• The truth will come out sooner or later. / Sooner or later, he will have to pay for his sins.

There and then – on the spot

• He gave his resignation letter there and then.

To the contrary – against what has been said

• I have nothing to say to the contrary.

With one voice – unanimously

• They unanimously elected him their leader