tenderly
gb/tˈɛndɚli/ us/tˈɛndɚli/
B1
English
~ 4700
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B1
property
1
In a gentle and caring way
In a soft and kind way, showing care.
Usage pattern:
to do [something] tenderly
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.
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.)
Collocations
look tenderly
|hold tenderly
|touch tenderly
|smile tenderly
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She held the baby tenderly in her arms.
- He smiled tenderly at his grandmother.
- 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.
- He spoke tenderly to the child.
- I held the bird tenderly.
- She smiled tenderly at her dog.
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.