nicely
NUH-ihs-lee
Nicely (adv) means In a pleasant or satisfactory way. Example: “The children played nicely together while the adults prepared lunch.”
adv
1
In a pleasant or satisfactory way.
"The children played nicely together while the adults prepared lunch."
"The garden has come along nicely this year."
"She handled the awkward question very nicely."
2
With care and precision.
"She folded the letters nicely and tucked them into the envelope."
"The tailor stitched the hem nicely, so you could hardly see it."
"He measured the ingredients nicely before baking."
How to use nicely
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe adverb form of nice — doing something in a pleasant, satisfactory, or careful way.
Common pairings
coming along nicely
nicely done
ask nicely
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Word forms
- Comparative
- nicelier, more nicely
- Superlative
- niceliest, most nicely
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children played _____ together while the adults prepared lunch.
Etymology
From nice plus the adverb ending -ly.
Related words
Rhymes for nicely
See all rhymes for nicely →Frequently asked questions
What does “nicely” mean?
The word “nicely” means in a pleasant or satisfactory way. In plain terms, the adverb form of nice — doing something in a pleasant, satisfactory, or careful way.
How do you pronounce “nicely”?
“Nicely” is pronounced NUH-ihs-lee (/ˈnʌɪsli/ in IPA).
How do you use “nicely” in a sentence?
Here is “nicely” used in a sentence: “The garden has come along nicely this year.”
What part of speech is “nicely”?
“Nicely” is an adverb.
Is “nicely” a common word?
“Nicely” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “nicely” have?
“Nicely” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a pleasant or satisfactory way.
What is the difference between nice and nicely?
Nice is an adjective, so it describes nouns: 'the room is nice.' Nicely is the adverb, so it modifies verbs and describes how something happens: 'the room is nicely decorated.' Saying 'the plan worked nice' is nonstandard; standard English requires 'the plan worked nicely.'
Is nicely a formal or informal word?
Nicely is neutral: it is at home in conversation, business writing, and most formal prose. In very precise writing, though, a more specific adverb — politely, carefully, neatly, or satisfactorily — can be a stronger choice because nicely covers so many meanings.
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