Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In an imperceptible manner; so as not to be perceived.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb Not noticeably, too small to be detected, too little to be perceived.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in an imperceptible manner or to an imperceptible degree

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

imperceptible +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • Highly dominant, moderately dominant, and what I call imperceptibly dominant or submissive.

    CNN Transcript Apr 7, 2007 2007

  • Highly dominant, moderately dominant, and what I call imperceptibly dominant or submissive.

    CNN Transcript Apr 8, 2007 2007

  • Clark smiled almost imperceptibly, that is his face expressed an inward amusement because a number of tiny lines wrinkled into being at the corners of his gray eyes, and his lips pushed out ever so slightly.

    The Rapids Alan Sullivan 1907

  • Cornelius or Schnorr (imperceptibly, that is to say), and reminiscences are poured out slowly while the smoke puffs from the pipes.

    Cousin Pons Honor�� de Balzac 1824

  • Barber says he has slowed "imperceptibly" but his body is slower to recover.

    With retirement looming, Tiki's balances NFL with his next career in the media 2006

  • But if only the youngest cohort in society changes and then persists in that new direction throughout their own life cycle, society as a whole changes inexorably but almost imperceptibly, like a massive supertanker changing course.

    American Grace Robert D. Putnam 2010

  • Slowly the gray light came stealing through the gloom, imperceptibly at first, so that it was almost with surprise that they noticed the vague loom of the trail underfoot.

    Chapter IV 2010

  • And the thing began so imperceptibly that I, old intimate of John Barleycorn, never dreamed whither it was leading me.

    Chapter 29 2010

  • Daylight's muscles tautened a second time, and this time in earnest, until steadily all the energy of his splendid body was applied, and quite imperceptibly, without jerk or strain, the bulky nine hundred pounds rose from the door and swung back and forth, pendulum like, between his legs.

    Chapter III 2010

  • But, imperceptibly, my need for alcohol took form and began to grow.

    Chapter 29 2010

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