Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
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softly

adverb US /ˈsɔːftli/

with low volume

How often you will meet it

Rank 1,205 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 15,184 times across 155,168 chapters — 0.007% of every word in the library.

What it means

adverb

  1. with low volume also: quietly speak softly but carry a big stickshe spoke quietly to the child
  2. in a manner that is pleasing to the senses she smiled softly
  3. with little weight or force also: lightly, gently she kissed him lightly on the forehead
  4. used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly also: piano

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

softly in real books

Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.

  • Miss Fenler left them, closing the door softly behind her.

    Dorothy Dainty at Glenmore · Amy Brooks · Chapter 1

  • The rails were beginning to hum softly, and it would not be long till the train arrived.

    The City of Fire · Grace Livingston Hill · Chapter 1

  • So he hopped softly over, and peered around the edge of the stone, and what do you think he saw?

    Uncle Wiggily's Travels · Howard Roger Garis · Chapter 1

  • He was stiff and sore all over, and feeling braver in the light 'e stepped softly upstairs and opened the door.

    Bill's Lapse Odd Craft, Part 4. · W. W. (William Wymark) Jacobs · Chapter 1

  • No sooner had he done so than the wounded Giant limped up to him and whispered softly, ‘Herd-boy, where are you?’

    The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1

Nearby in the frequency table

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