not especially

idiom

informal
used to say that one is not very interested in doing something
"Would you like to go to a movie?" "No, not especially."

Examples of not especially in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The men are angry, poorly trained, not especially bright. Andy Hoglund, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026 That said, while the Princess of Wales loves spicy foods, the Queen is not especially keen on them. Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 30 Jan. 2026 Tucked inside Assembly Hall, the locker room was not especially big. Doug Haller, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026 His time in Jurassic Park was not especially funny either. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for not especially

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Not especially.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20especially. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster