Meaning & use
coolly
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a calm and controlled way, showing no worry, anger or excitement, even when things are difficult.
Grammar: Goes with verbs of speaking and acting: she answered coolly.
Patterns
- act coolly
- respond coolly
The pilot coolly landed the plane in thick fog.
He coolly ignored the shouting and continued with his speech.
She coolly stepped around the broken glass and carried on.
adverbnot comparable
In an unfriendly way that shows little warmth or interest.
Grammar: Goes with verbs of greeting, treating or looking: greeted him coolly.
Patterns
- greet someone coolly
- receive something coolly
The new neighbors greeted us coolly at the door.
Critics received the film coolly.
She looked at him coolly and said nothing.
adverbnot comparableliterary
In a pleasantly cold way, giving a fresh, mildly cold feeling.
Grammar: Used with verbs describing breezes, drinks or shade: the breeze blew coolly.
The wind moved coolly through the open window.
Water ran coolly over her tired feet.
Common combinations
- coolly efficient
- The surgeon was coolly efficient throughout the operation.
- coolly deliberate
- It was a coolly deliberate decision, not a hasty one.
- greet coolly
- The committee greeted the proposal coolly.
- coolly announce
- He coolly announced that he was leaving.
- coolly observe
- She coolly observed the chaos from the corner.
Synonyms and how they differ
- calmly
- Calmly is warm and neutral, while coolly can imply a lack of feeling.
- composedly
- Composedly is more formal and always praises self-control, which coolly does not always do.
- frostily
- Frostily is stronger than coolly for unfriendliness and suggests open disapproval.
- aloofly
- Aloofly suggests staying apart on purpose, while coolly can describe a single reaction.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: coolly or cool?
coolly vs cool
Cool is an adjective, so say she was cool, but she answered coolly. Do not use cool as an adverb in careful writing.
Practice
Facing the angry crowd, the mayor ___ explained the new rules without raising her voice.
Choose one answer.
An adverb is needed to describe how she explained, and coolly means calmly. Cool is an adjective, and coldness and cooler are nouns.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “coolly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.