calmly
Americanadverb
-
without excitement, agitation, or passion.
He kept his cool throughout, calmly challenging his opponents on alleged facts he believed were wrong.
-
(of wind, waves, etc.) with relatively little force or movement; gently.
The wind blew calmly as the three of us lay on the beach, lazily passing the time.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of calmly
Explanation
When you do something calmly, you're cool and peaceful about it. Screaming hysterically for your mischievous dog to come back won't work, but if you calmly call his name, he'll probably come running. Doing things calmly means they happen easily, without any disturbance or strong emotion. That can include breathing calmly to reduce stress, speaking calmly to someone who's upset, or watching the gentle breeze blow calmly across the surface of a lake. The adverb calmly comes from the Old Italian calma, which means both "quiet" and "fair weather," and its Late Latin root cauma, "heat of the midday sun."
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.
“Let’s go to your room get your uniform on and take a break,” I say calmly.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
While most attendees left quickly in an orderly fashion, one guy sat calmly and ate his salad; he’d obviously seen a few things in his life.
From Salon • May 1, 2026
Dembele calmly converted to give PSG a 3-2 lead at the break.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026
One bright spring morning he appears, as quickly and oddly as a desert chill, sitting calmly in front of his locker, October’s mystery hero, alone, in full view, finally.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
She did all this calmly, without seeming effort, for caring for children in this way was second nature to her and left her mind free to wander.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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.
