adj
brotherly
BRUHTH-uh-lee
Brotherly (adj) means showing the warmth, loyalty, or protectiveness typical of a brother. Example: “He gave his younger colleague some brotherly advice before the interview.”
adj
1
Showing the warmth, loyalty, or protectiveness typical of a brother.
"He gave his younger colleague some brotherly advice before the interview."
How to use brotherly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKind and protective in the way a brother typically is toward a sibling.
Common pairings
brotherly love
brotherly advice
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more brotherly, brotherlier
- Superlative
- most brotherly, brotherliest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gave his younger colleague some _____ advice before the interview.
Etymology
From "brother" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ly", the same pattern as "friendly" or "fatherly".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
sisterly
Related words
Rhymes for brotherly
See all rhymes for brotherly →Frequently asked questions
What does “brotherly” mean?
The word “brotherly” means showing the warmth, loyalty, or protectiveness typical of a brother. In plain terms, kind and protective in the way a brother typically is toward a sibling.
How do you pronounce “brotherly”?
“Brotherly” is pronounced BRUHTH-uh-lee (/ˈbɹʌð.ɚ.li/ in IPA).
How do you use “brotherly” in a sentence?
Here is “brotherly” used in a sentence: “He gave his younger colleague some brotherly advice before the interview.”
What part of speech is “brotherly”?
“Brotherly” is an adjective.
