gentlemanly
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gentlemanly
late Middle English word dating back to 1375–1425; see origin at gentleman, -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.
They rehearsed martial arts in gentlemanly competitions of archery or horsemanship and recycled past heroics as entertainment in innumerable new stage dramas, literature, paintings and prints.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 7, 2026
John Simon fit the acerbic bill so well that he even appeared on an episode of “The Odd Couple,” along with the more gentlemanly example of Los Angeles Times theater critic Daniel Sullivan.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 4, 2024
"It's hard to classify this as a gentlemanly action."
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2023
By the 1700s, when shaving once again became de rigeur and it was considered respectable and gentlemanly to shave, the phrase “clean-shaven” took hold.
From National Geographic ● Nov. 7, 2023
Schiem showed his true gentlemanly nature by refraining from any crude comments as he lay a thick slice of steaming meat atop her piece of bread.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
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.
