Word Adverb
patiently
adv.
manner
B1 Intermediate US /ˈpeɪʃəntɫi/ UK /pˈeɪʃəntli/ pa·tient·ly
Definition
adv.doing something in a calm way without getting angry or upset, even if it takes a long time.
adv.in a manner that demonstrates tolerance for delay, trouble, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
Examples
“She waited patiently for the bus to arrive.”
“The teacher sat patiently while the student struggled to find the right words to explain the problem.”
“The detective watched the house patiently for hours, knowing that any sudden movement might alert the suspect and ruin weeks of careful surveillance.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.
Etymology
From patient + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated