softly
Americanadverb
-
in a low pitch or volume; quietly.
We spoke softly so as not to wake the baby.
Jazz was playing softly in the background.
-
Music. with a smoothly subdued and gentle sound.
In this passage, the horns exit softly as the violins become more vibrant.
-
in a way that is neither harsh nor glaring to the eye.
The room was softly lit with a dimmed chandelier and six flickering candles.
-
in a gentle, warm-hearted, or compassionate manner; tenderly; sympathetically.
She softly embraced her son and reassured him of her love.
Etymology
Origin of softly
First recorded in 1200–50; soft ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )
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.
Softly spoken, he's as hard as they come.
From BBC • Jul. 30, 2025
At the 1974 Grammys, "Killing Me Softly" won Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, cementing Flack as the first person to win Record of the Year back to back.
From Salon • Feb. 24, 2025
Softly adhered to the skin, the devices continuously track these subtle sounds simultaneously and wirelessly at multiple locations across nearly any region of the body.
From Science Daily • Nov. 16, 2023
The Fugees are known for hits such as “Ready or Not,” “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “Fu-Gee-La,” “No Woman, No Cry” and “Zealots.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2023
Softly, Max laid his right hand upon Bigger’s knee.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
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.
