Meaning

Used to form adjectives from nouns, the adjectives having the sense of "behaving like, or having a nature typical of what is denoted by the noun" Similar in meaning to -like but most often paired with animate nouns..

Definitions by Sense

1. Used to form adjectives from nouns, the adjectives having the sense of "behaving like, or having a nature typical of what is denoted by the noun" Similar in meaning to -like but most often paired with animate nouns.
2. Used to form adjectives from nouns, the adjectives having the sense of "appearing like, resembling, or having the likeness of what is denoted by the noun".
3. Used to form adjectives from nouns specifying time intervals, the adjectives having the sense of "occurring at such intervals".
4. Used to form adverbs from adjectives and nouns.
5. Used to form company or brand names.

Example Sentences

man + -ly → manly

comrade + -ly → comradely

bloom + -ly → bloomly

muscle + -ly → muscly

month + -ly → monthly

day + -ly → daily

sudden + -ly → suddenly

eerie + -ly → eerily

Word Forms

• more -ly
• -lier
• most -ly
• -liest

Synonyms for -ly

When Should You Use -ly?

Use -ly when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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