Meaning & use
holily
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Meanings
adverbformalliteraryrare
In a way that shows deep religious respect, devotion, or moral purity.
Grammar: Used to describe how an action is done, so it usually comes after a verb: live holily.
Patterns
- live holily
- behave holily
- speak holily
The old monk was said to have lived holily for forty years in the desert.
She spoke holily of her faith, never raising her voice in anger.
In the poem, the pilgrims walk holily toward the distant shrine.
adverbliteraryfigurativerare
In a way that seems sacred or worthy of deep respect.
Grammar: A weaker, figurative use; it describes something treated as if it were sacred rather than actually religious.
Patterns
- holily preserved
- holily regarded
The family kept the letters holily, as if each page were a relic.
Their traditions were holily guarded from one generation to the next.
Common combinations
- live holily
- He tried to live holily, praying each morning before dawn.
- speak holily
- The old woman spoke holily about forgiveness and patience.
- behave holily
- The children were told to behave holily during the ceremony.
- holily preserved
- The shrine's stones were holily preserved for centuries.
Synonyms and how they differ
- devoutly
- Much more common and less old-fashioned; it stresses sincere religious feeling rather than moral purity.
- piously
- Similar in meaning but often suggests showing religious devotion openly, sometimes insincerely.
- righteously
- Focuses on doing what is morally right, not on religious devotion or sacredness.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: holily or holistically? holily or wholly?
holily vs holistically
This means considering a whole system rather than separate parts, as in 'treated holistically'. It sounds similar but has nothing to do with religion.
holily vs wholly
This means completely or entirely, as in 'wholly satisfied'. It sounds almost the same as 'holily' but has a different meaning.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'holily' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Holily' means in a holy or deeply religious way, so it fits the monks' religious life. Option 0 confuses it with 'holistically', which is about whole systems; option 2 confuses it with 'wholly' (completely); option 3 makes no sense because finishing a report has nothing to do with holiness.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “holily”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.