cleanly

American  

[klen-lee, kleen-lee] / ˈklɛn li, ˈklin li /

adjective

cleanlier, cleanliest

1. personally neat; careful to keep or make clean.

   The cat is by nature a cleanly animal.

2. habitually kept clean.

3. Obsolete. cleansing; making clean.

---

adverb

1. in a clean manner.

cleanly British  

/ ˈklɛnlɪnɪs, ˈklɛnlɪlɪ /

adverb

1. in a fair manner

2. easily or smoothly

   the screw went into the wood cleanly

---

adjective

1. habitually clean or neat

Other Word Forms

• cleanlily adverb
• cleanliness noun

Etymology

Origin of cleanly

before 900; Middle English clenlich ( e ), Old English clǣnlīc, equivalent to clǣne clean + -līc -ly

Example Sentences

The protein needed to switch cleanly between active and inactive states for the cell to survive.

From Science Daily

"Kelly goes up for a header, he's gone for the header cleanly. His feet have to land on the ground somewhere," he added on BBC Radio 5 Live.

From BBC

The partially toothless Jack Hughes, left alone on the left wing, beat Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington cleanly 1:41 into the extra period to set off a wild celebration for the Americans.

From Los Angeles Times

The talk is of ensuring that there is a firewall between the King and the legal and police inquiries so that they can proceed cleanly.

From BBC

Had she landed it cleanly, she would have won a medal.

From BBC