Word
sternly
Phoneticsstern·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈstɝnɫi/
UK/stˈɜːnli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a serious and strict way, like when you want someone to stop doing something wrong.
adv. with stern severity or strict disapproval; conveying authority that expects obedience. Often describes tone of voice, facial expression, or reprimand.
Examples
“The teacher looks sternly at the noisy students.”
“The officer speaks sternly to the driver who parked in front of the fire exit.”
“The headmistress regards the boys sternly over her glasses, letting the silence stretch until one of them finally admits breaking the window.”
Examples
simple
“The teacher looks sternly at the noisy students.”
contextual
“The officer speaks sternly to the driver who parked in front of the fire exit.”
complex
“The headmistress regards the boys sternly over her glasses, letting the silence stretch until one of them finally admits breaking the window.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “sternly” in context.
Verb
01. gaze sternly at
“The judge gazed sternly at the defendant before speaking.”
verb + adverb + prep
02. glare sternly at
“The policeman glared sternly at the driver through the window.”
verb + adverb + prep
03. look sternly
“Her father looked sternly at her over his glasses.”
verb + adverb
04. reprimand sternly
“The headteacher reprimanded him sternly for breaking the rules.”
verb + adverb
05. say sternly
“"Sit down at once," she said sternly.”
verb + adverb
06. speak sternly
“The teacher spoke sternly to the class after the noise continued.”
verb + adverb
07. stare sternly
“The guard stared sternly at the visitors without a word.”
verb + adverb
08. warn sternly
“The coach warned sternly that anyone late would be dropped.”
verb + adverb
09. look sternly at someone
“She looked sternly at her son when he started to laugh.”
10. speak sternly to someone
“The teacher had to speak sternly to the boys to restore order.”
11. stare sternly in silence
“The librarian just stared sternly in silence until the room went quiet.”
12. tell off sternly for lying
“His parents told him off sternly for lying about his homework.”
Usage
Manner adverb — typically placed after the verb it modifies or at the end of the clause.
Real-World Examples
“The short videos rewrite the final moment of “To Catch a Predator,” in which Hansen calmly confronts and sternly chastises the would-be predator, before letting law enforcement take over.” “After the US strikes on Tuesday, Trump sternly warned Tehran against retaliating, saying that Iran would be “hit again at a much harder and higher level” if it responds.” “Although it may feel cathartic to shout at a gull trying to take your sandwich, Kelley and her colleagues wondered if shouting is more effective than simply speaking sternly to the bird.” Etymology
From Middle English sternly, sternely, sterneliche, sturnely, sturneliche, from Old English stirnlīċe, styrnlīċe, stiernlīċe (“harshly; severely; sternly”), equivalent to stern + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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