SOFTLY Definition & Meaning

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softly

[ sawft-lee, ��Ǵڳ�‐ ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adverb

in a low pitch or volume; quietly:
We spoke softly so as not to wake the baby.
Jazz was playing softly in the background.
Music. with a smoothly subdued and gentle sound:
In this passage, the horns exit softly as the violins become more vibrant.
in a way that is neither harsh nor glaring to the eye:
The room was softly lit with a dimmed chandelier and six flickering candles.
in a gentle, warm-hearted, or compassionate manner; tenderly; sympathetically:
She softly embraced her son and reassured him of her love.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of softly¹

First recorded in 1200–50; soft ( def ) + -ly ( def )

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Example Sentences

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On a few occasions he lifts his head to take a deep breath without opening his eyes, at one point beginning to snore softly.

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Though all five hits he gave up were singles — most of them hit softly — the $182-million star struggled to find the strike zone, walking four and putting himself under constant stress.

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The ball bounced softly off the rim only for James to finish the play just as the horn sounded.

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“I just want to play,” Betts said softly by his locker.

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And, of course, there are thousands of acres of green and golden hills, their grasslands softly rolling in the coastal breeze.

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