adv
Uncommon
gravely
GRAYV-lee
Gravely (adv) means In a very serious or solemn manner. Example: “He nodded gravely and said nothing more.”
adv
1
In a very serious or solemn manner.
"'No, no one's called that at home,' said Heidi gravely."
— , Johanna Spyri (1956)
"He nodded gravely and said nothing more."
"She was gravely injured in the accident."
How to use gravely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSeriously or solemnly — often used before words like "injured", "ill", or "concerned".
Common pairings
gravely ill
gravely injured
nodded gravely
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more gravely
- Superlative
- most gravely
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He nodded _____ and said nothing more.
Etymology
From grave (adjective) + -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for gravely
See all rhymes for gravely →Frequently asked questions
What does “gravely” mean?
The word “gravely” means in a very serious or solemn manner. In plain terms, seriously or solemnly — often used before words like "injured", "ill", or "concerned".
How do you pronounce “gravely”?
“Gravely” is pronounced GRAYV-lee (/ˈɡɹeɪvli/ in IPA).
How do you use “gravely” in a sentence?
Here is “gravely” used in a sentence: “He nodded gravely and said nothing more.”
What part of speech is “gravely”?
“Gravely” is an adverb.
Is “gravely” a common word?
“Gravely” is an uncommon word in modern English.