Meaning

3 senses
  1. In a soft manner; gently.

    The masseuse was rubbing my back too softly for my liking, so I asked her to go harder.

    sachte

    мя́гкоmjáxko

    м'я́коmʺjáko

    in a manner that is pleasing to the senses

  2. Not loudly; nearly inaudibly.

    whisper softly in someone's ear

    play music softly

    leise

    ти́хоtíxo

    ти́хоtýxo

  3. With subdued color; faded or misty with distance.

Examples

128 sentences
  1. Tom softly closed the door and tiptoed over to Mary.

    Том тихенько зачинив двері і підійшов до Мері навшпиньках.

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  2. She sang the song softly.

    Вона тихо співала пісню.

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  3. Speak softly and carry a big stick.

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  4. Tom kissed Mary softly on the lips.

    ruТом нежно поцеловал Мэри в губы.

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  5. Tom lay on his bed and cried softly into his pillow.

    ruТом лежал у себя на кровати и тихо плакал в подушку.

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Translations

8 languages
Українська
By meaning 2
softly, gently:
not loudly, inaudible:
Русский
By meaning 2
softly, gently:
not loudly, inaudible:
Deutsch
By meaning 2
softly, gently:
not loudly, inaudible:

Origin

From Middle English softely, softeliche, equivalent to soft + -ly.

From Middle English softely, softeliche, equivalent to soft + -ly.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

softlier/more softly, softliest/most softly
Comparativesoftlier / more softly Lesson
Superlativesoftliest / most softly

regular

Synonyms

4 synonyms
Close in meaning
  • with low volume:quietly
  • with little weight or force:lightlygently
  • used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly:piano

Antonyms

1 antonyms

Word family

4 related words

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
softly — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto