pleasantly
- 01 B1 Intermediate
in a way that makes you feel happy, comfortable, or satisfied.
in an agreeable or enjoyable manner that provides a sense of satisfaction.
Simple“We spent the afternoon walking pleasantly through the park in the sunshine.”
In context“The evening passed pleasantly as the guests engaged in light conversation while soft jazz played in the background.”
SynonymsAntonymsunpleasantlydisagreeably - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
used to describe a feeling when something is better than you expected.
used to modify adjectives or verbs to indicate a positive surprise or a higher-than-expected level of satisfaction.
Simple“I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was at the new café.”
In context“The investors were pleasantly surprised when the quarterly reports indicated a significant recovery in the retail sector despite the economic downturn.”
Synonyms - 03 B1 Intermediate
in a kind or polite way when talking to others.
in a manner characterized by politeness, affability, or social grace.
Simple“The receptionist smiled pleasantly and asked how she could help us.”
In context“Although the two rivals disagreed on policy, they spoke pleasantly to one another during the formal dinner.”
From Middle English pleasauntly; equivalent to pleasant + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.