# politely

/pəˈɫaɪtɫi/ (US) · /pəlˈaɪtli/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/politely
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

in a way that shows good manners and respect for other people.

For teachers: behaving in a manner that conforms to social etiquette and shows consideration for others.

## Examples

- She smiled politely at the guests.
- When the waiter brought the wrong dish, he politely asked for the correct order to be prepared.
- The diplomat politely declined to comment on the ongoing negotiations, citing the need for confidentiality until a final agreement was reached.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He spoke to me very polite." but "He spoke to me very politely." — Learners often use the adjective 'polite' instead of the adverb 'politely' to describe how an action is performed.

## Usage notes

- Typically follows the verb or the direct object.

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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.