Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • As one of good family or condition.
  • In a gentle manner; softly; with tenderness; without rudeness or harshness.
  • Gradually; without a bruptness or steepness: as, a gently swelling hill.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a gentle manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb in a gentle manner

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb with little weight or force
  • adverb in a gentle manner
  • adverb in a gradual manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

gentle +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • When the engines compensated for the lost tube, the descent was more leisurely, and the ship settled gently -- well, not exactly _gently_ -- on the surface of Eisberg.

    Unwise Child Randall Garrett 1957

  • If the arm, hand, or wrist be sprained, rub gently the upper spinal region with warm olive oil, continuing the rubbing _gently_ down the arm to the injured part (_see_ Rubbing) until the whole shoulder and arm glow with comfortable warmth.

    Papers on Health John Kirk

  • She had to shake me awake, saying my name gently, telling me that we were home.

    Good in Bed Jennifer Weiner 2001

  • Add the chocolate and whisk it in gently until it is melted and the custard is smooth.

    Archive 2009-04-01 2009

  • They led him quite gently from the cache, which he forgot to close.

    In a Far Country 2010

  • They led him quite gently from the cache, which he forgot to close.

    In a Far Country 2010

  • Especially when it results in gently melancholic mood pieces being turned into semi-tragic arias.

    A Little Night Music deliasherman 2010

  • Add the chocolate and whisk it in gently until it is melted and the custard is smooth.

    Four-Star Chocolate Bread Pudding! 2009

  • Especially when it results in gently melancholic mood pieces being turned into semi-tragic arias.

    A Little Night Music deliasherman 2010

  • I look to see if she's joking but she isn't and I explain gently why that wouldn't be appropriate – if only because several of our friends would die laughing.

    A new mum again … at 48! Luisa Dillner 2010

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