kindly
Americanadjective
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having, showing, or proceeding from a benevolent disposition or spirit; kindhearted.
kindly people.
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gentle or mild, as rule or laws.
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pleasant, agreeable, or benign.
kindly climate.
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favorable, as soil for crops.
adjective
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having a sympathetic or warm-hearted nature
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motivated by warm and sympathetic feelings
a kindly act
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pleasant, mild, or agreeable
a kindly climate
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archaic natural; normal
adverb
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in a considerate or humane way
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with tolerance or forbearance
he kindly forgave my rudeness
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cordially; pleasantly
he greeted us kindly
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please (often used to express impatience or formality)
will you kindly behave yourself!
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archaic in accordance with nature; appropriately
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to react unfavourably towards
Related Words
See kind 1.
Other Word Forms
- kindliness noun
Etymology
Origin of kindly
First recorded before 900; Middle English kyndly (adjective and adverb), Old English gecyndelīc “natural,” gecyndelīce “naturally”; kind 1, -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.
Even so, Lehto noted that workers may not take kindly to a competitor’s car being parked in a spot earmarked for a company vehicle.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
Sheila Hutchings, a Democrat, voted for Harris because she wanted "a more positive" personality who would "speak kindly" to all constituents regardless of party.
From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026
"Customers are kindly requested to contact their local MSC office for details of the designated port and to confirm recovery or onward transport instructions," it said.
From Barron's • Mar. 9, 2026
The first is to detach with love — that is, politely and kindly, and with no explanations or blame.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026
Of course, I was kindly disposed toward all of earth’s creatures.
From "Willodeen" by Katherine Applegate
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.
