Foundation level · Year 4 · free
gently
adverb · Say it: JENT-lee
What it means
Foundationin a soft, careful and calm way
Sam gently stroked the hamster so it would not be scared.
Similar and opposite words
Synonyms (similar meaning)
- carefully
- lightly
- softly
- tenderly
Antonyms (opposite meaning)
- harshly
- roughly
- violently
More examples
- The leaves floated gently down onto the playground in autumn.
Where the word comes from
From 'gentle', from Old French 'gentil', meaning noble.
Try a quick question
One question about “gently”, the way 11+ papers ask it (Foundation level).