Slightly means by a small amount or to a small degree. When something is slightly different, you can notice the difference, but it's not very big. If you're slightly taller than your friend, you might be only an inch or two taller. If your mom says dinner will be slightly late, she probably means five or ten minutes, not an hour.

The word helps us describe small changes or differences that matter but aren't dramatic. A recipe might call for slightly more salt than another version. Your teacher might say your handwriting has improved slightly since last month. When you're slightly nervous before a presentation, you feel a little anxious but not overwhelmed.

Think of slightly as the opposite of words like “greatly” or “significantly.” If someone is slightly annoyed, they're a bit bothered but not angry. If a book is slightly more difficult than the last one you read, you'll manage fine with a little extra effort. The word acknowledges that even small degrees of difference can be worth mentioning.