1. 表示“特别地”，用于修饰形容词或副词，强调程度。如：

It is especially cold today. 今天特别冷。

We need to be especially careful. 我们需要特别小心。

We are especially busy today. 我们今天特别忙。

I’m feeling especially tired this evening. 今天晚上我特别累。

She was trying to be especially nice to him. 她设法对他特别好。

有时也修饰动词。如(from www.yywords.com)：

I especially want to see that film. 我特别想看那部电影。

Kate especially seems happy. 凯特显得特别高兴。

I was especially interested in him. 我特别对他有兴趣。

2. 用于强调目的，意为“特意”、“专门”，通常与表目的的不定式或介词 for 短语连用。如：

We bought it especially for you. 这是我们特意为你买的。

The book is written especially for children. 这本书是专门为孩子们写的。

注：这样用的especially通常用specially代替。

3. 表示陈述某一事实之后，列举一个具有代表性的例子，作进一步强调，其后可接名词、介词短语、从句等。如(from www.yywords.com)：

This street is very crowd, especially on Sundays. 这条街很拥挤，尤其是星期天。

The blacks played an important role, especially in Brazil. 黑人起了重要作用，特别是在巴西。

We want to invite some friends, especially Jim and John. 我们想邀请几个朋友，尤其是吉姆和约翰。

I hate interruptions, especially when I’m trying to work. 我讨厌别人打扰，尤其是当我要工作的时候。