adv

gently

JEHNT-lee

adv

Softly or lightly, without force or roughness.

"He gently closed the door so as not to wake the baby."

"She gently placed the vase back on the shelf."

Quietly and smoothly, with little noise or sudden movement.

"The boat rocked gently on the calm water."

How to Use Gently

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIn a soft, careful, or mild way.

Common pairings

gently squeeze ease gently into rock gently

gentlier comparative, more gently comparative, gentliest superlative, most gently superlative

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He _____ closed the door so as not to wake the baby.

From Middle English gentilly/gentilliche, built from gentle plus the adverb suffix -ly.

roughly

roughly

recently fluently urgently silently intently patently decently currently fervently patiently evidently presently

roughly