Meaning & use
kindly
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Meanings
adverb
In a warm, caring, and thoughtful way toward other people.
Grammar: Used to describe how an action is done; it often comes before the verb or at the end of a clause.
Patterns
- treat someone kindly
- speak kindly to someone
- kindly offer something
She smiled kindly at the nervous new student.
The nurse spoke kindly to the frightened child.
He kindly offered to carry her heavy bags.
adverbformalold-fashioned
Used in polite requests or questions, often when asking someone to do something.
Grammar: This use is formal and slightly old-fashioned; it often comes before the verb in a request.
Patterns
- kindly do something
- would you kindly do something
Would you kindly close the window?
Kindly wait here until your name is called.
Passengers are kindly requested to keep their seats.
adjectivebefore a noun
Having a gentle, friendly, and generous nature, especially in an older person.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in 'a kindly old man'; it is not usually used after a verb like 'be'.
Patterns
- a kindly old man
- a kindly face
- a kindly smile
The kindly old man gave the children some sweets.
She had a kindly face that made everyone feel at ease.
Our kindly neighbor often helps us with the garden.
Word forms
| comparative | kindlier |
|---|---|
| superlative | kindliest |
Common combinations
- treat someone kindly
- The staff treated us kindly during our stay.
- speak kindly
- He always speaks kindly about his former teacher.
- kindly offer
- She kindly offered to drive me to the airport.
- kindly smile
- The doctor gave me a kindly smile and told me not to worry.
- kindly request
- The hotel kindly requests that guests do not smoke in the rooms.
Synonyms and how they differ
- warmly
- Suggests friendly, affectionate behavior; 'kindly' is more about thoughtful care for others' needs.
- gently
- Focuses on being soft and careful, not necessarily on being thoughtful or generous.
- considerately
- Emphasizes thinking about other people's feelings; 'kindly' is a more general word for warm behavior.
- benevolently
- Formal and literary; describes a powerful person acting in a generous way, while 'kindly' is everyday and equal.
Opposites
Word family
- kind adjective
- Caring and generous toward others; the base adjective.
- kindness noun
- The quality of being kind, or a kind act.
- kindhearted adjective
- Having a naturally warm and generous character.
Commonly confused: kindly or kind? kindly or kind of?
kindly vs kind
As an adjective, 'kind' means caring and helpful; 'kindly' as an adjective is mainly used before nouns like 'kindly old man' and sounds gentler or more old-fashioned.
kindly vs kind of
'Kind of' is an informal phrase meaning 'a little' or 'rather', while 'kindly' is a separate word meaning in a caring way.
Practice
Choose the best word to complete the sentence: The librarian spoke ______ to the young boy who had lost his book.
Choose one answer.
'Kindly' is the adverb needed to describe how she spoke. 'Kind' is an adjective and would need a verb like 'was', as in 'was kind'. 'Kindness' is a noun and does not fit after 'spoke'. 'Kindly of' is not a standard phrase here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “kindly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.