# gentle

/ˈdʒɛnəɫ/ (US) · /dʒˈɛntəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gentle
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. kind and calm

adjective · CEFR B1

kind, calm, and careful not to hurt or upset anyone.

For teachers: having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament.

- He was a gentle man who never raised his voice at his children.
- The nurse was remarkably gentle with the elderly patients, taking care to explain every procedure in a soothing tone.

### 2. soft or light

adjective · CEFR B1

not strong, loud, or violent.

For teachers: moderate in force, intensity, or degree; not harsh or severe.

- A gentle breeze blew through the open window during the afternoon.
- The recipe requires gentle heat to ensure the delicate sauce does not break or curdle during the reduction process.

### 3. gradual slope

adjective · CEFR B2

rising or falling slowly rather than being very steep.

For teachers: having a low or moderate gradient; not steep or abrupt.

- The path up the hill is a gentle slope that is easy to walk.
- The road follows a gentle incline toward the summit, making it accessible for amateur cyclists despite the overall elevation gain.

### 4. to calm or tame

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary

to make a person or animal calm and peaceful.

For teachers: to make someone or something calm, or to domesticate an animal through kind treatment.

- She spoke softly to the frightened horse to gentle it.
- Years of patient interaction helped to gentle the wild stallion until it finally accepted a rider without resistance.

### 5. fishing bait

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Technical

a small worm or maggot used to catch fish.

For teachers: a maggot, specifically the larva of a blowfly, used as live bait by anglers.

- The fisherman bought a tin of gentles before heading to the river.
- Experienced anglers often prefer gentles for catching smaller river fish like roach or dace during the summer months.

Usage: Usually used in the plural when referring to a container of bait.

### 6. a person of high birth

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a person born into a high social class or a good family.

For teachers: a person of noble or respectable birth and social standing.

- The old stories tell of gentles and commoners working together.
- In the medieval social hierarchy, the distinction between gentles and the peasantry was enforced by both law and custom.

## Examples

- Be gentle with the new puppy.
- The nurse was very gentle when she cleaned the wound to make sure the patient felt no pain.
- A gentle breeze stirred the leaves of the ancient oaks, providing a welcome relief from the stagnant heat of the afternoon sun without disturbing the quiet of the garden.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.