Adverbs reverberate in the land of grammar in order to provide greater description to verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. Realistically, you've probably come across them before in your reading and writing. You can readily spot them by their -ly ending, although they don't have to end in -ly.
Rapidly is an adverb in the same way rather is an adverb. Let's get really rambunctious and leap into a list of 50 adverbs that start with R.
50 Adverbs Starting With R
Together, we'll reel in 50 of the most common R-adverbs. Beside them is a reasonably precise definition, as well as a few synonyms:
Adverb | Definition | Synonym |
in a way that relates to race or race differences | genetically, culturally, ethnically | |
without method or conscious decision | haphazardly, aimlessly, by chance | |
at a great rate | speedily, swiftly, quickly | |
not often | exceptionally, occasionally, seldomly | |
to a certain extent or degree | fairly, slightly, relatively | |
in a logical manner | sensibly, intelligently, judiciously | |
without hesitation | easily, freely, quickly | |
in a way that demonstrates a sensible idea of what can be achieved | sensibly, practically, rationally | |
without a doubt | actually, indeed, truly | |
in a fair and sensible way | rationally, sanely, sensibly | |
in a way that removes doubt and fears | assuredly, convincingly, encouragingly | |
at a recent time; not long ago | lately, freshly, newly | |
without regard for cost or consequence | dangerously, heedlessly, carelessly | |
in a reinvigorating way | exhilaratingly, freshly, invigoratingly | |
something which is not dependent upon current circumstances | anyway, nevertheless, either way | |
in a large but limited area | locally, provincially, territorially | |
in a manner that inspires regret | remorsefully, apologetically, sorrowfully | |
used to express apology for something | sadly, grievously, horribly | |
with a constant frequency or pattern | automatically, commonly, frequently | |
compared with something else | approximately, comparably, almost | |
done in a constant or harsh way | brutally, mercilessly, savagely | |
in a dependent manner | dependably, faithfully, predictably | |
with consistent and conscientious regularity | regularly, automatically, faithfully | |
doing something against your will | unwillingly, involuntarily, hesitantly | |
in a manner that is unusual, extraordinary, or worthy of attention | exceptionally, extraordinarily, uncommonly | |
at a distance; far away | distantly, obscurely, secludedly | |
done several times or in repetition | frequently, regularly, habitually | |
in a manner characterized by repetition, especially when it is unnecessary or tiresome | tediously, constantly, monotonously | |
according to what someone said | supposedly, allegedly, apparently | |
according to general belief | seemingly, ostensibly, obviously | |
with all of one's heart | bravely, firmly, obstinately | |
in a manner that shows regard for someone or something | considerately, deferentially, courteously | |
in the order given | accordingly, subsequently, correspondingly | |
in a manner that is marked by good decisions and caring for others | maturely, competently, effectively | |
something done after the fact | retrospectively, subsequently | |
something done in a deeply respectful way | admiringly, earnestly, fondly | |
in a manner whereby a question is asked as a statement rather than a method of eliciting information | hyperbolically, pretentiously | |
in a manner that relates to a consistent beat or meter | gracefully, neatly, dexterously | |
in an elaborate, generous, or plentiful way | amply, lavishly, opulently | |
in a manner that is funny, embarrassing, or implausible | stupidly, absurdly, unbelievably | |
in accordance with what is right or just | fairly, lawfully, justly | |
with justice | fairly, properly, suitably | |
done in a very strict, hard, severe, or intense way | severely, firmly, sternly | |
in a sturdy and strong manner | strongly, fully, resolutely | |
in a way that is expressive of feelings of love | sentimentally, lovingly, passionately | |
in a manner that is coarse, uneven, tough, or difficult | harshly, rudely, austerely | |
in a manner that has become common or expected | usually, commonly, frequently | |
to an extreme degree | utterly, completely, thoroughly | |
in a manner that does not conform to what society says is polite | impolitely, bluntly, harshly | |
in a manner that doesn't show any compassion or mercy | cruelly, mercilessly, savagely |
To add even more adverbs to your expanding vocabulary, check out this List of 100 Adverbs!
What Is an Adverb?
Adverbs like to dance around our verbs, providing more information. And, although they typically adorn verbs, they're not strictly tied to them. They can also modify adjectives and other adverbs.
A great way to spot adverbs is to look for words that end in -ly. Examples from the above list include "rhythmically" and "rudely."
Let's take a closer look at what adverbs do:
- Adverbs Tell How It Happened: Adverbs like "randomly" describe how something was done.
- Adverbs Tell Where It Happened: Adverbs like "remotely" describe the location of where something happened.
- Adverbs Tell When It Happened: Adverbs like "recently" describe when something took place.
- Adverbs Tell the Extent of an Action: Adverbs like "rather" describe the extent to which something did or did not happen.
For more on how adverbs work to intensify the meaning behind other words, check out these Examples of Adverbs.
10 Example Sentences
Ready to explore some of these R-adverbs in action? Here are ten of them in sentence form:
- He randomly selected two rabbits from the breeder.
- She was always readily available to her students.
- Rachel reassuringly patted her on the back as they prayed together.
- She recently broke a new record on Words With Friends.
- She drove recklessly to the hospital to get to her father.
- The detective relentlessly pursued the villain.
- Mom repeatedly told Raul to stop chasing the kitten.
- Robert respectfully declined the invitation to the annual gala.
- Rebecca was romantically involved with her boss and we all know how that ended.
- He ruthlessly cut through the weeds to reach the clearing in the woods.
Routinely Edit Your Adverbs
Although adverbs are great friends to the verb, you don't want to dress all your verbs in adverbs. Adding too many -ly words to our sentences can clog them up, making our writing appear clunky.
Instead, opt for a remarkably strong and unique verb, when possible. Still, that's not to say you shouldn't continue to acquaint yourself with this interesting member of the grammar family. In fact, why not start all the way back at the beginning, with Adverbs That Start With A? Enjoy the journey!