weakly
WEEK-lee
Weakly (adv) means In a weak manner; without much force. Example: “He smiled weakly and shook her hand.”
adv
1
In a weak manner; without much force.
"He smiled weakly and shook her hand."
adj
1
Sickly or physically frail.
"She was a weakly child who missed a lot of school."
""Oh, a huge crab," Jacob murmured—and begins his journey on weakly legs on the sandy bottom."
— Virginia Woolf (1922)
How to use weakly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMostly used as an adverb meaning "without strength" (a weakly flickering light), though it can also describe a frail person.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the adverb "weakly" (without strength) with "weekly" (every week) — they sound alike.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Comparative
- weaklier, more weakly
- Superlative
- weakliest, most weakly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He smiled _____ and shook her hand.
Etymology
This comes from Old English wāclīċe ("weakly"), equivalent to weak plus -ly (adjectival suffix); compare Old English wāclīċ ("weak; ignoble; mean") and Old Norse veikligr ("weakly; sick"), both ultimately from Proto-Germanic *waikalīkaz ("weakly; weak").
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “weakly” mean?
The word “weakly” means in a weak manner; without much force. In plain terms, mostly used as an adverb meaning "without strength" (a weakly flickering light), though it can also describe a frail person.
How do you pronounce “weakly”?
“Weakly” is pronounced WEEK-lee (/ˈwiːkli/ in IPA).
How do you use “weakly” in a sentence?
Here is “weakly” used in a sentence: “He smiled weakly and shook her hand.”
What part of speech is “weakly”?
Depending on how it is used, “weakly” can be an adverb and an adjective.
Is “weakly” a common word?
“Weakly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “weakly” have?
“Weakly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in a weak manner; without much force.
