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Peripherally for Dummies

pronunciation: pɝr'ɪfɝrʌli

What does Peripherally really mean?

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Hey there! Let's take a friendly dive into the meaning of "Peripherally".

So, have you ever heard the phrase "thinking outside the box"? Well, imagine you're standing inside a big square room, and all you can see is what's right in front of you. Everything outside of that room is considered peripheral to you. It's like the edges of your vision that you can't focus on directly, but you're still aware of their existence. And that's kind of what "peripherally" means - something that is on the outer edges or outskirts of something else.

Let's say you're in a bustling city, like the sight of busy roads and tall buildings are the main focus. However, if you look carefully, you'll notice people walking on the sidewalks, street vendors selling yummy snacks, and beautiful trees lining the streets. These are all examples of things that exist peripherally to the main focus of the city. They are around, but they aren't directly at the center of attention.

Now, "peripherally" isn't only about physical things. It can also refer to something that is just slightly related or connected to the main idea or topic. It's like when you're talking about your favorite book, and someone mentions a character who is not the main character, but still has an impact on the story. That character is peripherally connected to the main plot but isn't the main focus.

Another way to explain "peripherally" is by thinking about a group conversation. You know how sometimes people have different opinions and express their thoughts, but there's usually one or two people who stay quiet and listen attentively? Those listeners are still part of the conversation, they're still there peripherally, but they aren't actively contributing as much as the others.

So, in a nutshell, "peripherally" means something that is on the outer edges or outskirts of something else, either physically or in terms of relevance or focus. It's like the extras in a movie or the people sitting in the background of a photograph - they're there, but they aren't necessarily the main attraction.

Hope that clears it up for you! Any more questions?


Revised and Fact checked by Michael Davis on 2023-10-29 19:17:16

Peripherally In a sentece

Learn how to use Peripherally inside a sentece

  • When you're looking at a picture, your eyes can see the things that are in the center very clearly, but the things on the edges or sides are seen peripherally, which means not as clearly.
  • If you are standing in the middle of a crowded room, you can hear the loud sound of people talking right next to you, but you can also hear softer sounds peripherally, like someone whispering in the corner.
  • Imagine you are eating a pizza and you take a big bite from the center where there's a lot of toppings. The parts of the pizza with less toppings, like the crust, are on the periphery because they are on the outside edges.
  • When you're playing a video game and you're focused on the main character in the middle of the screen, you can still see the enemies approaching from the sides peripherally, even though they are not right in front of you.
  • In a classroom, the teacher usually stands at the front of the room, and the students sitting in the front row can see and hear the teacher clearly. But the students sitting in the back row might see and hear the teacher peripherally, which means not as clearly as those in the front.

Peripherally Antonyms

Words that have the opposite context of the original word.

Peripherally Pertains To

Words to which the original word is relevant