kindly
Americanadjective
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having, showing, or proceeding from a benevolent disposition or spirit; kindhearted.
kindly people.
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gentle or mild, as rule or laws.
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pleasant, agreeable, or benign.
kindly climate.
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favorable, as soil for crops.
adjective
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having a sympathetic or warm-hearted nature
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motivated by warm and sympathetic feelings
a kindly act
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pleasant, mild, or agreeable
a kindly climate
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archaic natural; normal
adverb
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in a considerate or humane way
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with tolerance or forbearance
he kindly forgave my rudeness
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cordially; pleasantly
he greeted us kindly
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please (often used to express impatience or formality)
will you kindly behave yourself!
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archaic in accordance with nature; appropriately
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to react unfavourably towards
Synonym Usage
See kind 1.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of kindly
First recorded before 900; Middle English kyndly (adjective and adverb), Old English gecyndelīc “natural,” gecyndelīce “naturally”; see kind 1, -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
A 23-year-old university student in Tehran said history would judge Khamenei more kindly than does the present.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026
But Steve Toussaint and Abubakar Salim, who play Lord Corlys Velaryon and his bastard son Alyn of Hull, suggest that in hindsight, we may look upon the first two seasons a bit more kindly.
From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026
Other kindly ushers, who had directed people to an adjacent section after Section 535 filled up, politely asked everyone to please put their shirts back on before returning to the general stadium population.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
"My mum's church in Barnoldswick kindly let me use the church hall," she said.
From BBC ● May 20, 2026
She counted herself lucky that Gallup was a gentler soul who treated her kindly.
From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield
In theory — or in a kindlier, alternative universe — exercise would aid substantially in weight loss.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 22, 2021
“Bonobos have evolved in a forest that is kindlier in its food supply, and that allows them to be kindly, too,” Wrangham and Peterson write.
From The New Yorker ● Feb. 13, 2019
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., opened the House prayer asking at "a time fraught with tribalism at home and turbulence abroad" that lawmakers "become the architects of a kindlier nation."
From Fox News ● Jan. 3, 2019
Stockton says she wouldn’t have felt any kindlier toward the ACS if the mailings had omitted the warning.
From Science Magazine ● Apr. 28, 2015
“It's all right, I guess, Sonny,” she said in a kindlier tone.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
"Mauretania to Urban Council, Amble, to the last and kindliest port in England, greetings and thanks. Mauretania."
From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2026
It’s also the band’s noisiest album — and perhaps its kindliest.
From New York Times ● Apr. 17, 2024
So I completely get why Larry David would lay hands on the world’s kindliest Muppet on live TV.
From Salon ● Feb. 9, 2024
Boldest of all is the brief appearance of Richard O’Rourke as Ronald Paquin, a retired priest, who answers the door to Pfeiffer and answers her questions with the kindliest of smiles.
From The New Yorker ● Nov. 9, 2015
Finally, he leaned toward her and said in the kindliest sort of voice, “What book did you have in mind, my dear?”
From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
