Word
tenderly
Phoneticsten·der·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛndɝɫi/
UK/tˈɛndəli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a gentle and caring way. You use this to describe how someone touches, holds, or speaks to someone else with love and care.
adv. in a gentle, affectionate, or careful manner. Often describes physical contact or speech intended to show care and concern.
Examples
“She held the baby's hand tenderly.”
“The nurse treated the patient's wound tenderly to avoid causing any further pain or discomfort.”
“The old man spoke tenderly of his childhood, recounting stories with a softness that suggested a deep, enduring connection to the past.”
Examples
simple
“She held the baby's hand tenderly.”
contextual
“The nurse treated the patient's wound tenderly to avoid causing any further pain or discomfort.”
complex
“The old man spoke tenderly of his childhood, recounting stories with a softness that suggested a deep, enduring connection to the past.”
Real-World Examples
“She is forced out into the world at the same time as Carrie, and the effects it has on her are as carefully and almost tenderly explored by the series as her daughter’s are.” “The dialogue is funny, tenderly painting the warm family relationships until that one moment destroys everything.” “When his daughter was born, Hunt tenderly tucked his newborn into a Crave Case, which typically holds 30 of White Castle’s iconic sliders, to announce her arrival.” Etymology
From tender + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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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