Meaning & use
gingerly
Last updated
Meaning
adverbnot comparable
In a careful, cautious way, especially to avoid pain, damage, or noise.
Grammar: Modifies a verb and says how an action is done; it never compares (*more gingerly).
Patterns
- step gingerly
- pick something up gingerly
- touch something gingerly
- move gingerly
She stepped gingerly onto the thin ice.
He picked up the cracked vase gingerly.
After the operation, she moved gingerly around the house.
Common combinations
- step gingerly
- She stepped gingerly over the puddle on the path.
- pick up gingerly
- He picked the letter up gingerly, as if it might break.
- touch gingerly
- The nurse touched the bruise gingerly.
- move gingerly
- The injured player moved gingerly back onto the field.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cautiously
- A wider word for avoiding risk or danger; it can describe decisions, not only physical movements.
- carefully
- The broadest near-synonym; gingerly adds the idea of moving or touching delicately.
- warily
- Adds suspicion or alertness to possible harm; you can watch someone warily without moving at all.
- tentatively
- Emphasizes uncertainty and trying gently, often because the result is unknown.
Opposites
Commonly confused: gingerly or ginger?
gingerly vs ginger
Ginger is the spicy root used in cooking; despite the similar spelling, gingerly has no connection to the spice.
Practice
The ladder looked unsafe, so he climbed it ___.
Choose one answer.
An unsafe ladder calls for careful, cautious movement, so gingerly fits. Recklessly means the opposite and would be dangerous; eagerly and noisily ignore the need for care.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gingerly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.