adj
comely
KUHM-lee
Comely (adj) means Pleasant to look at; attractive, especially in a wholesome or modest way. Example: “The novel describes her as a comely young woman with quiet confidence.”
adj
1
Pleasant to look at; attractive, especially in a wholesome or modest way.
"The novel describes her as a comely young woman with quiet confidence."
How to use comely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old-fashioned way of saying someone or something is good-looking, without the intensity of "gorgeous" or "stunning."
When to use it
Fairly literary or old-fashioned in modern English; rare in everyday speech.
Common pairings
comely lass
comely appearance
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like comely.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- comelies
- Past tense
- comelied
- Comparative
- comelier, more comely
- Superlative
- comeliest, most comely
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The novel describes her as a _____ young woman with quiet confidence.
Etymology
From Old English cymlic, meaning "beautiful" or "splendid," combined with the suffix -lic ("-like").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for comely
See all rhymes for comely →Frequently asked questions
What does “comely” mean?
The word “comely” means pleasant to look at; attractive, especially in a wholesome or modest way. In plain terms, an old-fashioned way of saying someone or something is good-looking, without the intensity of "gorgeous" or "stunning.".
How do you pronounce “comely”?
“Comely” is pronounced KUHM-lee (/ˈkʌmli/ in IPA).
How do you use “comely” in a sentence?
Here is “comely” used in a sentence: “The novel describes her as a comely young woman with quiet confidence.”
What part of speech is “comely”?
“Comely” is an adjective.
Where does the word “comely” come from?
The word “comely” comes from Old English. From Old English cymlic, meaning "beautiful" or "splendid," combined with the suffix -lic ("-like").
