gentle
JEHNTL
Gentle (adj) means Kind, mild, and careful, especially in dealing with others. Example: “The nurse was so gentle with the elderly patient that he hardly noticed the injection.”
adj
1
Kind, mild, and careful, especially in dealing with others.
"The nurse was so gentle with the elderly patient that he hardly noticed the injection."
"She spoke in a gentle voice to calm the frightened dog."
"Be gentle with the puppy, it's still very young."
2
Not harsh, forceful, or severe; mild.
"Use a gentle shampoo if your skin is easily irritated."
"The teacher gave a gentle reminder instead of a harsh telling-off."
"A gentle breeze drifted through the open window."
3
Rising or falling gradually rather than steeply.
"Cyclists enjoy the gentle hills of the valley road."
"Beginners often prefer a gentle incline on the treadmill at first."
"The trail follows a gentle slope up the hill."
verb
1
To calm, soothe, or tame.
"It took patience to gentle the stray cat enough to let anyone touch it."
"She hummed softly to gentle the crying baby back to sleep."
"The trainer worked to gentle the nervous horse."
How to use gentle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSoft, mild, and careful rather than rough or forceful.
Common pairings
gentle reminder
gentle breeze
gentle slope
go gentle
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Word forms
- Plural
- gentles
- Third person singular
- gentles
- Past tense
- gentled
- Comparative
- gentler, more gentle
- Superlative
- gentlest, most gentle
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse was so _____ with the elderly patient that he hardly noticed the injection.
Etymology
From Old French gentil ("noble, high-born"), from Latin gentilis — the meaning shifted from "of good birth" to "kind and mild-mannered", the trait nobility was supposed to show.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “gentle” mean?
The word “gentle” means kind, mild, and careful, especially in dealing with others. In plain terms, soft, mild, and careful rather than rough or forceful.
How do you pronounce “gentle”?
“Gentle” is pronounced JEHNTL (/ˈd͡ʒɛntl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “gentle” in a sentence?
Here is “gentle” used in a sentence: “She spoke in a gentle voice to calm the frightened dog.”
What is another word for “gentle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “gentle” include friendly, kind, polite and respectful.
What is the opposite of “gentle”?
The opposite of “gentle” — its antonyms — is rude.
What part of speech is “gentle”?
Depending on how it is used, “gentle” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “gentle” come from?
The word “gentle” comes from Latin. From Old French gentil ("noble, high-born"), from Latin gentilis — the meaning shifted from "of good birth" to "kind and mild-mannered", the trait nobility was supposed to show.
Is “gentle” a common word?
“Gentle” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between "gentle" and "kind"?
"Gentle" emphasizes a mild, soft, and careful manner, especially in how you touch, speak, or handle something. "Kind" emphasizes good intentions and concern for others, so a person can be gentle in their actions and kind in their motives at the same time.
What is the comparative form of "gentle" — "gentler" or "more gentle"?
Both "gentler" and "more gentle" are accepted, with "gentler" being the more common comparative and "gentlest" the superlative. "More gentle" can sound natural for emphasis, but "gentler" is usually preferred.
What is the difference between "gentle" and "soft"?
"Soft" often describes physical texture or a lack of firmness, while "gentle" describes a mild, careful quality of action or manner. A pillow is soft, but a touch, breeze, or reminder is gentle.
What are common collocations with "gentle"?
"Gentle" frequently pairs with words like breeze, giant, reminder, and slope, as in "a gentle reminder" or "a gentle breeze." These phrases draw on its sense of mildness and lack of harshness.
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