Meaning & use

softly

adverb·Everyday

In a quiet, gentle, or delicate manner, without force or harshness.

See it in a sentence

She spoke softly so as not to wake the sleeping baby in the next room.

Snow fell softly over the quiet village throughout the night.

A note on using this word

Softly can describe sound, touch, light, or manner; pair it with verbs like speak, land, or glow.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

loudlyharshly

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