gently
Americanadverb
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in a kind and amiable manner.
When a child makes a social mistake, an adult should gently and clearly explain what to do in the future to replace the inappropriate behavior.
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in a way that is not rough, harsh, or violent.
New or gently used toys, for both indoor and outdoor use, are requested for donation.
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in a way that is not extreme; moderately.
The ground sloped gently downward until it was almost level with the land on the other side of the stream.
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softly; quietly.
He sings beautifully and easily at full voice, yet sounds equally compelling when singing more gently and lyrically.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gently
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.
With eyes gently shut, she began to romance the audience with “Me Empiezo a Enamorar,” a sweetly sung, whimsical tune about falling in love: first with someone’s smile, then with their moonlit eyes.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
The table’s triangular, gently curved glass plane reads like the calm surface of a pool, beneath which the legs summon a cascade of associations: sea life, bones, waterfowl, twisted roots.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026
Its brand of gently offbeat Americana is pure comfort-watching.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 30, 2026
“Aw,” she says with an accent, smiling gently at Chip.
From Salon • Jun. 30, 2026
With one hand, Hadel untied her apron and gently placed the nests on the ground.
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
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.
