jauntily

American  

[jawn-tuh-lee, jahn-] / ˈdʒɔn tə li, ˈdʒɑn- /

adverb

1. in an easy and lively manner.

   Just as she was wishing he were there, he suddenly appeared on the stairway and made his way jauntily down it.

2. in a smartly trim manner.

   With the yellow beret perched jauntily on my head, I thought I was a true fashion plate.

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Etymology

Origin of jauntily

jaunty ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Doing something jauntily means you're filled with cheer, style, and self-confidence while you do it. If you're excited about showing off an especially fashionable outfit, you might walk jauntily down the hallway at school. If you've ever watched a dog show, you know the winner is inevitably a lively, handsome pup that trots jauntily around the ring. You could jauntily sing a little tune while you're taking out the trash or wear your hat tipped jauntily to one side of your head. This adverb implies a certain stylishness combined with good cheer. It comes from jaunty and its French root, gentil, "nice or pleasing."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jauntily

Cut the pastry into roughly nine 3-inch squares and tuck each one into a prepared muffin tin, leaving the corners to rise jauntily above the cups.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

The final scene, in which Titus enters dressed as a chef, a cream puff of a toque jauntily placed on his head—he’s baked those unpalatable pies—retains its deranged tone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 1, 2026

His version of a dad joke meant, I think, to jauntily suggest that I wasn’t his?

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2024

Nearby, Rhythm jauntily greets some of the show’s producers, who pause their work to pet the charming pup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2024

In fact, as I watched her, she seemed quite happy, her two brown braids bouncing jauntily in rhythm to her walk.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan