1
a
: in a kind manner : sympathetically
b
: as a gesture of goodwill
would take it kindly if you would put in a good word
: in an appreciative manner
She didn't respond kindly to the suggestion.
c
: in a gracious manner : courteously
they kindly invited us along
d
: as a matter of courtesy : please
would you kindly order me a cab
2
a
dated
: readily
But he had his gravelled walks, his poets' avenue of yews, that grew kindly, his sundials with their graceful and melancholy admonitions, …—
Francis Brett Young
Francis Brett YoungAt Pisa he saw something both of Trelawny and of Byron, who took to him kindly …—Sidney Colvin
Sidney Colvin
b
: in the normal way : naturally
old wounds which had healed kindly—Amer. Mercury
Amer. Mercurysee also take kindly to
Synonyms
Examples of kindly in a Sentence
Adjective
A kindly woman helped him find his way home.
brought homemade chicken soup out of kindly concern for my health
Adverb
She always treats animals kindly.
They kindly offered to help us.
Recent Examples on the WebArmond White, National Review, 21 Feb. 2024
While Cottin, largely unknown to American audiences, is inscrutable in the best way, her stern exterior belying her kindly heart.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2023
The kindly doctor suggested three medicines: a dietary supplement, a new birth control containing drospirenone, and a pill called spironolactone.
—S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2023
The guilelessness is genuine: Stewart in person is Picard and Xavier in their kindliest, most compassionate moments.
—WIRED, 3 Oct. 2023
Our first stop is Beckett’s early childhood in suburban Dublin, where the young lad’s love of poetry and lyrical thinking is nurtured by his kindly father William (Barry O’Connor) and challenged by his gorgon-like mother May (Lisa Dwyer Hogg).
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 1 Oct. 2023
Woolery’s actors dutifully make their way through the text (Chatmon’s Antonio and Susan Lin’s kindly adviser, Gonzalo, in particular have an ear for its rhythms), but the overall progress feels tentative, the territory underexplored.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2023
Wounded during his escape from that Sicilian estate, McCall is treated by a kindly doctor (Remo Girone) and spends several weeks recuperating in the quaint town of Altomonte.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2023
Yet Trump, the unwise wise guy, will eventually face less kindly examiners.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2023
Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
During a tour, Josh Reinhart, an assistant store leader, kindly recited the various metrics for each major attraction at my request.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 29 Mar. 2024
There’s a long tradition of presenting England’s smalltown shopkeepers, pub-tenders, constables and vicars as kindly, communal folks who keep calm and carry on in the name of queen and country.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024
And not all employers might look so kindly on the Tinder approach, Liu cautioned.
—Larissa Gao, NBC News, 16 Mar. 2024
Ice Spice Ditches Her Signature Hairstyle in Favor of Butt-Length Curls — See Her New Look!
Ice (whose real name is Isis Naija Gaston) didn’t take too kindly to the message, adding one of her own.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024
After facing a month of criticism for appearing inebriated during a January concert honoring the country legend, King has broken her silence on the subject, thanking those who responded kindly — and those who didn’t.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2024
Within half an hour of my house there are three quilting stores, all of them staffed by kindly women eager to provide advice, support, and praise.
—Ayelet Waldman, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2024
Consultants’ Tips For Specific Schools The admissions consultants cited in this article kindly provided the following brief tips for interviews with specific schools.
—Dr. Marlena Corcoran, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Fans willing to overlook the obvious vapidity of director Rob Reiner, a hostile Democrat-progressive zealot, prove that some conservatives are bamboozled by liberalism’s kindly pretense.
—Armond White, National Review, 21 Feb. 2024
While Cottin, largely unknown to American audiences, is inscrutable in the best way, her stern exterior belying her kindly heart.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2023
The kindly doctor suggested three medicines: a dietary supplement, a new birth control containing drospirenone, and a pill called spironolactone.
—S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2023
The guilelessness is genuine: Stewart in person is Picard and Xavier in their kindliest, most compassionate moments.
—WIRED, 3 Oct. 2023
Our first stop is Beckett’s early childhood in suburban Dublin, where the young lad’s love of poetry and lyrical thinking is nurtured by his kindly father William (Barry O’Connor) and challenged by his gorgon-like mother May (Lisa Dwyer Hogg).
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 1 Oct. 2023
Woolery’s actors dutifully make their way through the text (Chatmon’s Antonio and Susan Lin’s kindly adviser, Gonzalo, in particular have an ear for its rhythms), but the overall progress feels tentative, the territory underexplored.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2023
Wounded during his escape from that Sicilian estate, McCall is treated by a kindly doctor (Remo Girone) and spends several weeks recuperating in the quaint town of Altomonte.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 30 Aug. 2023
Yet Trump, the unwise wise guy, will eventually face less kindly examiners.
—David Remnick, The New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2023
Adverb
Attempts to connect with these former friends — by sending them controversial columns about gender identity, for example — are not received kindly.
—Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
During a tour, Josh Reinhart, an assistant store leader, kindly recited the various metrics for each major attraction at my request.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 29 Mar. 2024
There’s a long tradition of presenting England’s smalltown shopkeepers, pub-tenders, constables and vicars as kindly, communal folks who keep calm and carry on in the name of queen and country.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024
And not all employers might look so kindly on the Tinder approach, Liu cautioned.
—Larissa Gao, NBC News, 16 Mar. 2024
Ice Spice Ditches Her Signature Hairstyle in Favor of Butt-Length Curls — See Her New Look!
Ice (whose real name is Isis Naija Gaston) didn’t take too kindly to the message, adding one of her own.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 13 Mar. 2024
After facing a month of criticism for appearing inebriated during a January concert honoring the country legend, King has broken her silence on the subject, thanking those who responded kindly — and those who didn’t.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2024
Within half an hour of my house there are three quilting stores, all of them staffed by kindly women eager to provide advice, support, and praise.
—Ayelet Waldman, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2024
Consultants’ Tips For Specific Schools The admissions consultants cited in this article kindly provided the following brief tips for interviews with specific schools.
—Dr. Marlena Corcoran, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kindly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near kindly
Cite this Entry
“Kindly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kindly. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kindly
1 of 2 adjective
kind·ly
ˈkīn-(d)lē 
kindlier; kindliest
1
: pleasant or wholesome in nature
a kindly climate
2
: of a sympathetic or generous nature
kindly men
kindliness
noun
kindly
2 of 2 adverb1
: in a willing manner
does not take kindly to criticism
2
a
: in a kind manner
treat animals kindly
b
: in an appreciative manner
I would take it kindly if you would put in a good word for us
c
: in an obliging manner
they kindly asked us to go along
d
: as a matter of courtesy : please
kindly pass the salt
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