with low volume; "speak softly but carry a big stick"; "she spoke quietly to the child"; "the radio was playing softly"
Used in a Sentence
softly
How to use softly in a sentence. Example sentences and definitions for softly.
Editorial note
Is it not true that the more softly the lion lives the more slavishly he lives?
Examples7
Definitions4
Parts of speech1
Quick take
with low volume; "speak softly but carry a big stick"; "she spoke quietly to the child"; "the radio was playing softly"
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of softly gathered in one view.
in a manner that is pleasing to the senses; "she smiled softly"
with little weight or force; "she kissed him lightly on the forehead"
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for softly.
adverb
with low volume; "speak softly but carry a big stick"; "she spoke quietly to the child"; "the radio was playing softly"
See also: quietly
adverb
in a manner that is pleasing to the senses; "she smiled softly"
adverb
with little weight or force; "she kissed him lightly on the forehead"
adverb
used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly
See also: piano
Example sentences
Is it not true that the more softly the lion lives the more slavishly he lives?
Try to count softly; you want to pay attention to your breathing, not your counting.
And many a partner slumbered softly in bed, while visions of A-rounds flooded their SO's heads.
With both of them on and some Miles Davis playing softly in the background I can effectively block out all other noise.
They carefully lay the cable down into its final resting place, whilst a full orchestra plays a requiem ever so softly in the background.
Even if they could land the stage softly enough with a reasonable amount of parachutes, the stage has trouble surviving tipping over in the ocean after landing.
Alternatively, perhaps it serves as a bogey-man; "now I'm on a watchlist" has entered modern parlance and with it, the mindset that one must speak "unapproved" opinions softly.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use softly in a sentence?
Is it not true that the more softly the lion lives the more slavishly he lives?
What does softly mean?
with low volume; "speak softly but carry a big stick"; "she spoke quietly to the child"; "the radio was playing softly"
What part of speech is softly?
softly is commonly used as adverb.