attentively

[uh-ten-tiv-lee]

adverb

1. while giving attention; observantly.

   Please listen attentively.

2. while thoughtfully attending to others; politely; courteously.

   Our stay was attentively organized by the director.

Word History and Origins

Origin of attentively¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English; attentive ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

She listened attentively to every word Penelope uttered.

Read more on Literature

“I see,” President Davis replied, attentively leaning forward across the desk.

Read more on Literature

Seema pretends to listen attentively until neither she nor we can take it anymore.

Read more on Salon

But, he added, “I will be a judge who will listen attentively to your stories.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Why am I doing this? But he reads this article, very thoughtfully, quite attentively, and he looked up and said, ‘That’s a great idea.’

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anxiously 
• conscientiously www.thesaurus.com
• correctly www.thesaurus.com
• deliberately 
• delicately 
• discreetly 
• faithfully 
• fully 
• gingerly 
• laboriously 
• meticulously 
• precisely 
• prudently 
• rigorously 
• scrupulously 
• thoroughly 
• thoughtfully www.thesaurus.com
• warily