tenderly
gb/tˈɛndɚli/ us/tˈɛndɚli/
B1
English
~ 4700
gyengéden
B1
1
gyengéden
B2
Usage pattern:
to do [something] tenderly
She held the baby tenderly in her arms.
Gyengéden tartotta a karjában a kisbabát.
He smiled tenderly at his grandmother.
Gyengéden mosolygott a nagymamájára.
Maria brushed the cat's fur tenderly, enjoying the moment.
The nurse spoke tenderly to calm the frightened patient.
Learner examples
She touched the flower tenderly.
Gyengéden megérintette a virágot.
He spoke tenderly to the child.
Gyengéden beszélt a gyerekhez.
I held the bird tenderly.
She smiled tenderly at her dog.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'tenderly' with 'softly'. 'Softly' can mean quietly or gently in sound, while 'tenderly' usually refers to emotional warmth as well as gentleness.
Meaning
In a gentle and caring way
Collocations
look tenderly
|hold tenderly
|touch tenderly
|smile tenderly
Synonyms
gently (Similar in meaning, but focuses more on physical softness rather than emotional warmth.)
|
lovingly (Emphasizes affection and emotional attachment more strongly than 'tenderly'.)
Antonyms
harshly (Opposite in that it implies roughness or lack of care.)
|
coldly (Opposite in that it implies emotional distance or lack of warmth.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
In a soft and kind way, showing care.
In a way that shows gentleness, kindness, and care for someone or something.
Grammar
Dictionary form
tenderly
IPA
GB/tˈɛndɚli/
US/tˈɛndɚli/
Syllables & stress
ten - derly (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ten)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: tenderly
- Plural: tenderlies
Word family
Forms
tenderlies
noun
Core family
tender
adjective B2
tenderness
noun B1
Related words
tenderize
verb
tenderizer
noun
Expressions
hold someone tenderly
1/hˈoʊld sˈʌmwˌʌn tˈɛndɚli/
fixed phrase
Hold someone gently and with affection
To keep someone in your arms softly and with love.
Examples
- She held him tenderly as he cried.
- He held the puppy tenderly so it would not get scared.
look at someone tenderly
1/lˈʊk ˈæt sˈʌmwˌʌn tˈɛndɚli/
fixed phrase
Look at someone with care and affection
To look at a person in a way that shows love or kindness.
Examples
- He looked at her tenderly as she spoke.
- The mother looked at her baby tenderly after feeding him.