gently
gb/d͡ʒˈɛntli/ us/d͡ʒˈɛntli/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adverb
A2
property
1
In a soft or mild way
In a soft and careful way, not hard or loud.
Usage pattern:
to [verb] gently
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'gently' with 'politely'. 'Gently' describes the manner of action (softly), not social politeness.
Synonyms
softly (Focuses more on quietness, especially of sound, rather than physical gentleness.)
|
lightly (Implies minimal pressure or force, sometimes less emotional connotation.)
Antonyms
roughly (Describes doing something with force or without care.)
|
harshly (Implies doing something in a severe or unkind way.)
Collocations
gently touch
|gently push
|gently hold
|gently stir
|gently rock
Themes
daily life
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She closed the door gently so as not to wake the baby.
- He spoke gently to calm her down.
- The nurse gently cleaned the wound.
- The breeze gently moved the curtains.
- He gently placed the cup on the table.
Learner examples
- He touched the cat gently.
- Please close the window gently.
- She spoke gently to the child.
- The teacher gently told him to sit down.
- He put the box down gently.
adverb
B1
property
2
In a kind and caring way
In a kind and caring way to someone.
Usage pattern:
to [verb] gently
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with physical softness; here it refers to emotional tone.
Synonyms
tenderly (Often expresses affection and warmth more strongly than 'gently'.)
|
kindly (Implies moral goodness and benevolence, sometimes more formal.)
Antonyms
cruelly (Doing something in a way that causes pain or distress.)
|
coldly (Without warmth or compassion.)
Collocations
gently remind
|gently encourage
|gently advise
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She gently explained why his answer was wrong.
- He held her hand gently as she cried.
- The doctor gently told the patient the results.
- The teacher gently corrected the student's mistake.
Learner examples
- She spoke gently to her friend.
- He gently told me the bad news.
- The nurse gently told him to rest.
- My father gently explained the rules.
adverb
A2
property
3
With only slight force or intensity
Using only a small amount of force or power.
Synonyms
lightly (Nearly identical in some contexts; often interchangeable.)
Antonyms
firmly (With strong pressure or force.)
Collocations
gently press
|gently squeeze
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Press the button gently to avoid breaking it.
- He gently squeezed her shoulder.
- Mix the batter gently so it stays fluffy.
Learner examples
- Please press the switch gently.
- He gently pushed the chair back.
- She gently pressed the paper flat.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gently
IPA
GB/d͡ʒˈɛntli/
US/d͡ʒˈɛntli/
Syllables & stress
gently (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gently)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gently
- Plural: gentlies
Word family
Forms
gentlies
noun
Core family
gentle
adjective A2
gentleness
noun B2
Expressions
gently does it
1/d͡ʒˈɛntli dˈʌz ˈɪt/
fixed phrase
Proceed carefully and slowly
Used to tell someone to do something slowly and carefully.
Examples
- Easy now, gently does it with that glass vase.
- Gently does it—there’s no rush to finish.
go gently into that good night
1/ɡˈoʊ d͡ʒˈɛntli ˈɪntu ðˈæt ɡˈʊd nˈaɪt/
idiom
literary
Accept death peacefully
A poetic way of saying to accept death calmly and without fighting it.
Examples
- The poem urges us not to go gently into that good night.
- He refused to go gently into that good night, fighting illness until the end.