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adv Uncommon

madly

MAD-lee

Madly (adv) means In an extreme, intense, or uncontrolled way — often used with "in love". Example: “They fell madly in love within weeks of meeting.”

adv
1
In an extreme, intense, or uncontrolled way — often used with "in love".
"They fell madly in love within weeks of meeting."
"The dog ran madly around the garden chasing its tail."
2
In an angry or furious manner.
"He gestured madly at the referee after the missed call."

How to use madly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishWildly, intensely, or furiously — most often heard in the phrase "madly in love".

Common pairings
madly in love run around madly

Word forms

madlier comparative, more madly comparative, madliest superlative, most madly superlative

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They fell _____ in love within weeks of meeting.

Etymology

From mad plus the adverb-forming suffix -ly.

Related words

Rhymes for madly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “madly” mean?

The word “madly” means in an extreme, intense, or uncontrolled way — often used with "in love". In plain terms, wildly, intensely, or furiously — most often heard in the phrase "madly in love".

How do you pronounce “madly”?

“Madly” is pronounced MAD-lee (/ˈmædli/ in IPA).

How do you use “madly” in a sentence?

Here is “madly” used in a sentence: “They fell madly in love within weeks of meeting.”

What part of speech is “madly”?

“Madly” is an adverb.

Is “madly” a common word?

“Madly” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “madly” have?

“Madly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in an extreme, intense, or uncontrolled way — often used with "in love".

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial