What does greedily mean?
Greedily is an adverb meaning “in a greedy manner,” describing behaviour driven by an excessive desire for possessions, food, wealth, control, or advantage. It commonly appears in contexts such as eating eagerly, taking more than one needs, or pursuing opportunities with an unyielding appetite. The word carries a stronger negative connotation when it refers to greed for money or power than when it describes an enthusiastic appetite for food, though even that usage can imply lack of restraint or courtesy. Greedily is formed directly from greedy by adding the suffix -ly, which changes the adjective into an adverb of manner. It is common in both British and American English and is equally suitable for formal descriptions, literary prose, journalism, and everyday conversation. Related forms include greed and greediness, which name the quality that greedily describes.
adverbIn a greedy manner, with an excessive desire for wealth, possessions, food, or advantage.
- In a greedy manner, with an excessive desire for possessions, food, wealth, or advantage.
- Eagerly or voraciously, especially when consuming something or seeking an opportunity.
"The children greedily devoured the cake before anyone else could take a slice."
"The children greedily devoured the cake before anyone else could take a slice."
"She greedily scanned the list of discounts, searching for the best possible deal."
Greedily turns a character trait into a pattern of action: from grabbing the last slice to chasing every possible gain.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How greedily is actually used
The word is neutral in grammatical register but often carries a negative moral judgment when it describes acquisitiveness. In descriptions of eating, it can suggest voracity or eagerness rather than moral vice.
Easily confused with greedily
Greedily is an adverb describing how someone acts, while greedy is an adjective describing a person or quality and can also be used as a noun for a greedy person.