gamely
Americanadverb
adverb
Etymology
Origin of gamely
Explanation
To do something gamely is to do it in an enthusiastic, plucky, and determined manner. If you study vocabulary gamely (and we know you always do), you make it a point to have a great time learning new words. When you're game for something, you're excited and ready to do it. Likewise, to act gamely is to have a positive, upbeat approach to something. If you gamely agree to help your friend cram for a test, you might show up with snacks and good music — just to make things a little more fun. When you behave gamely, you're bringing good vibes. A coach who runs practice in a gamely manner is likely to inspire confidence in the team.
Vocabulary lists containing gamely
The Nickel Boys
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The Weight of Our Sky
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Red, White & Royal Blue
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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.
Baker gamely faced 36 balls for his four.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
But I gamely soldiered back into the sunlight and onto the pathways that line the National Mall, each ginger step kicking up dust.
From Slate ● Jun. 5, 2026
As we speak, he gamely spoons chicken noodle soup into his mouth with a plastic spoon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 13, 2026
As she told Salon in 2000, her manager gamely spun her disappearance from public view as intentional, that she was holding out for suitable scripts.
From Salon ● Feb. 4, 2026
Some of the other teachers gamely made conversation with Mackintosh, but the chasm was too vast.
From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove
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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.