# nicely

/ˈnaɪsɫi/ (US) · /nˈaɪsli/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. pleasantly or well

adverb · CEFR A2

in a pleasant, kind, or satisfactory way.

For teachers: in a manner that is pleasant, agreeable, or satisfactory.

- The children played nicely together in the garden all afternoon.
- The new software integrates nicely with our existing database, saving the IT department hours of manual configuration.

### 2. precisely

adverb · CEFR C1 · Formal

with great care and attention to small details.

For teachers: with fine discernment, precision, or exactness.

- The two parts of the machine fit nicely together.
- The author nicely distinguishes between the two theories, highlighting subtle differences that most critics overlook.

Usage: Often used in technical or academic contexts to describe a distinction or a fit.

### 3. carefully

adverb · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

doing something very carefully or being very fussy about details.

For teachers: in a fastidious, refined, or overly careful manner.

- The old documents were nicely arranged in the wooden chest.
- He was a man who dressed nicely, paying extreme attention to the fold of his cravat and the shine of his boots.

## Examples

- The two children are playing nicely together.
- The new curtains match the sofa quite nicely and make the room feel much warmer.
- The project is coming along nicely, with all major milestones met ahead of the original schedule despite the recent staffing changes.

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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.