adj
motherly
MUH-thuh-lee
Motherly (adj) means Warm, protective, and nurturing in the way typically associated with a mother. Example: “She gave the frightened boy a motherly hug.”
adj
1
Warm, protective, and nurturing in the way typically associated with a mother.
"She gave the frightened boy a motherly hug."
"His motherly instincts kicked in the moment the baby cried."
How to use motherly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBehaving the way a caring mother would — gentle, protective, and nurturing.
Common pairings
motherly love
motherly instinct
motherly warmth
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more motherly
- Superlative
- most motherly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She gave the frightened boy a _____ hug.
Etymology
From Old English mōdorlīċ, built from mother plus the suffix -ly ("in the manner of").
Related words
Rhymes for motherly
See all rhymes for motherly →Frequently asked questions
What does “motherly” mean?
The word “motherly” means warm, protective, and nurturing in the way typically associated with a mother. In plain terms, behaving the way a caring mother would — gentle, protective, and nurturing.
How do you pronounce “motherly”?
“Motherly” is pronounced MUH-thuh-lee (/ˈmʌðɚli/ in IPA).
How do you use “motherly” in a sentence?
Here is “motherly” used in a sentence: “She gave the frightened boy a motherly hug.”
What part of speech is “motherly”?
“Motherly” is an adjective.
Where does the word “motherly” come from?
The word “motherly” comes from Old English. From Old English mōdorlīċ, built from mother plus the suffix -ly ("in the manner of").
