Link Centre Dictionary

softly

UK/ˈsɑftli/ US/ˈsɔftli/ common

adverb

1.

with low volume

  • “speak softly but carry a big stick”
  • “she spoke quietly to the child”
  • “the radio was playing softly”
Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

in a manner that is pleasing to the senses

  • “she smiled softly”
3.

with little weight or force

  • “she kissed him lightly on the forehead”
Synonyms
4.

used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly

Synonyms
Antonyms

Origin

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

Phrases

  • softly softly
  • speak softly and carry a big stick
  • talk softly and carry a big stick
  • tread softly
  • walk softly and carry a big stick

Related words

Pertaining to

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.