handsomely
Americanadverb
Etymology
Origin of handsomely
Explanation
To do something handsomely is to do it in a way that looks attractive or pleasing. If you arrange a bouquet of flowers handsomely, they'll look great even if they're in a pickle jar instead of a fancy vase. A teenage boy might aspire to dress handsomely for his senior prom, wearing a nice tuxedo and bow tie. Another meaning of handsomely is "generously," or "substantially," so if the boy's boss at the neighborhood pizza shop pays him handsomely, he'll also be able to rent a limousine to transport him and his date to the dance.
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.
Handsomely shot by Jeff Nichols’ regular cinematographer, Adam Stone, ‘Damsel’ has the look of a classic Western but a story of dopey, lost men that could just as easily be told in modern-day Brooklyn.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2018
Handsomely paid in the scheme of things, feature film directors are lucky to be able to draw this conveniently thin line between retirement and sabbatical.
From The Guardian • Aug. 16, 2017
Handsomely staged, stirringly sung and performed for the most part with consummate craft, nonetheless succeeds not so much for its artistry as for its heart.
From Time • Dec. 30, 2012
Handsomely shot and deliberately paced, it has a superficially cinematic quality, but it doesn’t have the storytelling juice to keep you engaged in Mr. King’s convoluted multi-ghost story.
From New York Times • Dec. 10, 2011
Handsomely printed in 34 vols., demy 8vo, cloth, £15 3s.
From 'Midst the Wild Carpathians by J?kai, M?r
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.
