帮助中心

softly

[ˈsɒftli]

softly Definition

in a gentle or quiet way that does not make much noise or cause disturbance.

Using softly: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "softly" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    She spoke softly to the baby so as not to wake it up.

  • Example

    The leaves rustled softly in the breeze.

  • Example

    He knocked softly on the door and waited for a response.

softly Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for softly

Antonyms for softly

Phrases with softly

  • softly-softly

    a cautious and gradual approach to something, especially in order to avoid upsetting anyone

    Example

    The company is taking a softly-softly approach to the restructuring process.

  • speak softly and carry a big stick

    advocate peaceful negotiation but be prepared to use force if necessary

    Example

    The politician's foreign policy was to speak softly and carry a big stick.

  • to land gently or without making a sound

    Example

    The snowflakes fell softly on the ground.

📌

Summary: softly in Brief

'Softly' [ˈsɒftli] means to do something in a gentle or quiet way that does not make much noise or cause disturbance. It is often used to describe actions like speaking, knocking, or rustling, as in 'She spoke softly to the baby so as not to wake it up.' 'Softly' also appears in phrases like 'softly-softly,' which refers to a cautious approach, and 'speak softly and carry a big stick,' which means to advocate peaceful negotiation but be prepared to use force if necessary.

How do native speakers use this expression?