Meaning & use
languidly
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Meanings
adverbnot comparable
In a slow, unhurried, and relaxed way, as if there is little energy or no need to rush.
Grammar: Usually follows the verb it describes: she waved languidly.
Patterns
- move languidly
- speak languidly
The cat stretched languidly in the afternoon sun.
She waved languidly at the passing boat.
He languidly turned the page of his magazine and yawned.
adverbnot comparableformal
In a weak or slightly weary way, often suggesting someone feels too tired or unwell to make an effort.
Grammar: Used with verbs of speech or movement: he answered languidly.
Patterns
- answer languidly
- lean languidly against something
The patient languidly lifted a hand to greet the nurse.
In the oppressive heat, the crowd languidly fanned themselves.
He languidly pushed the food around his plate, too tired to eat.
Common combinations
- drift languidly
- The clouds drifted languidly across the summer sky.
- stretch languidly
- She stretched languidly before getting out of bed.
- wave languidly
- The king waved languidly to the crowd below.
- speak languidly
- He spoke languidly, as if the question bored him.
- lie languidly
- They lay languidly by the pool all afternoon.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lazily
- Lazily often suggests an unwillingness to work, while languidly sounds graceful and unhurried.
- leisurely
- Leisurely describes a pace that is comfortable and unrushed, but it does not hint at tiredness the way languidly can.
- listlessly
- Listlessly points to a lack of interest or spirit and feels more negative than the often pleasant languidly.
- sluggishly
- Sluggishly stresses slowness and heaviness, usually with an unflattering tone.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: languidly or lazily?
languidly vs lazily
Lazily implies a reluctance to do something, whereas languidly describes a graceful, slow manner and need not involve laziness.
Practice
Which sentence uses languidly correctly?
Choose one answer.
Languidly means slowly and with little energy, so it suits a cat stretching in the sun. Bursting, sprinting, and rushing all involve speed and effort, so they clash with the word.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “languidly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.