What does sparingly mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈspɛrɪŋli/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Adverb

Definition

Using something carefully and in small amounts, as it is considered limited or valuable. Synonymous with thriftiness or stinginess.

Examples

• She uses her favorite perfume sparingly, only on special occasions.
• He adds salt sparingly to his meals to maintain a healthier diet.

Synonyms

• Frugally
• Scarcely
• Infrequently

Antonyms

• Lavishly
• Liberal
• Freely

Additional Information

Sparing can have both positive and negative connotations, depending on the context in which it’s used. In one sense, using something sparingly may suggest prudence or care for something that’s scarce. On the other hand, using something sparingly may indicate an excessive or stingy behavior.

In an economic sense, the sparingly behavior often encourages financial savings, cutting back on wasteful consumption and supporting sustainability. Alternatively, sparingly consuming art, leisure activities, or travel might indicate restrictions placed on personal freedom.

Moreover, sparingly is also observed in dietary and fitness goals, referring to food consumed moderately, especially foods rich in calories or unhealthy elements, and hence adding to self-discipline and routine habit.

Etymology

The term ‘sparingly’ originates from Old English wunian, wununge fstinence. ‘Sparing’ started as parsus, spare; and evolved over Middle English sparing, a method known as sparingly began to come into vogue from Middle and 15th-century use.

Usage Notes

Sparing has common translations in a variety of languages and cultures, referring to limitations or reserved nature, thus expressing conservative tendencies in terms of a valuable object.

‘Spare’, at first an adjective and only later an adverb during Elizabethan English, used an instrumental case expressing the character of being kept separate from the common sphere for its greater preservation. Then began sparingly, suggesting actions undertaken keeping a space from excessive losses with cautious movements and a more disciplined mindset.

Cultural References

‘Sparing’ – spare – parsus; thrived well into its connotations due to its co-formative tendencies getting advanced from antiquities expressing simple modern day connotation sparing one’s way sparing time and such were put sparingly forming a path in current language world to be understood worldwide as a factor.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

• Has a sparing use in daily life
• Has a sparing use of words
• Has always used time sparingly without being unduly extravagant

Related Words or Phrases

• Begrudgingly
• Meagerly

Collocations

• to apply sparingly
• to use sparingly

Frequency of Use

‘What does sparingly mean’ is moderately used in modern language context being often heard in spoken English thus expanding significantly into various strata.

Common Misspellings

• Spareingly
• Sparely