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Glite Dictionary
smilingly

smilingly

2 2.5
With the mouth turned up in a friendly way
  • adverb
  • /ˈsmaɪlɪŋli/
translation icon : sonriendo
  • I had meant to offer it to him, but he smilingly held out his hand for my ministrations.
  • smilingly say
  • smilingly call
  • looked smilingly

The television cameras were on him and he looked at her and smilingly said, I just forgot to duck.

Examples

  • Winifred thought about her mother as the doorman smilingly opened the door for her.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • Anna smiles, then summons her courage and smilingly approaches George.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The television cameras were on him and he looked at her and smilingly said, I just forgot to duck.

    Evan Carmichael

  • Janet looked smilingly at Nick, whose hand had tightened on hers, and saw that he was looking sick again.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Before he can comment, she smilingly presents him with a spanking new briefcase.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • "Sorry, Jim," he smilingly told moderator Jim Lehrer, who is practically a PBS icon.

    Blog text (3)

  • A very attractive, sparkling little waitress in a starched white dress, as she poured his coffee, smilingly said, "This is a wonderful day, isn't it?"

    Blog text (19)

  • Indian hosts drew attention to their virtue by boasting of the luxury and comfort their guests received, though, as Perrot noted, "this is done smilingly and with all possible graciousness."

    Academic text (2001)

  • The comedy A Man Could Get Killed featured a lengthy Catholic funeral mass, with Aurora-Celeste, dressed in black mourning attire, pretending to cry at her lover's burial (only to then turn to the movie's protagonist and smilingly wink at him).

    Academic text (2017)

  • She smiled at her friend and smilingly offered her help.

Synonyms

with a smile
vssmilingly
67 1.0

In a friendly way while smiling

is the adverb describing doing something with that facial expression
amiably
vssmilingly
4 3.7

In a friendly, pleasant way

is about the facial manner rather than general pleasant behaviour
good-naturedly
vssmilingly
4 3.5

In a kind and friendly way

focuses on the facial manner not on lasting personal character
genially
vssmilingly
1 3.7

In a friendly and cheerful way that makes people feel welcome

focuses on the facial way rather than general cheerfulness
affably
vssmilingly
1 4.4

In a friendly, pleasant way that shows warmth and kindness

refers to the facial manner instead of broad friendly behaviour
beamingly
vssmilingly
4.2

A person smiles in a bright, happy way

is a plain facial manner rather than a radiant display
toothily
vssmilingly
7.0

Showing the hard parts in the mouth when smiling or grinning

emphasizes teeth display while the adverb describes general facial manner

Antonyms

frowningly
1 7.1

In a way that shows you are unhappy or annoyed

unsmilingly
1 6.7

In a way that looks serious and not happy

How Warm

warmly
39 1.0
smilingly
2 2.5
politely
108 1.0
neutrally
2 3.6
coldly
30 4.0

Surface Forms

smilingly positive

Morphology

smilingly = smiling (transparent) = smile + ing + ly

The adverb is formed by adding the productive adverbial suffix '-ly' to 'smiling', which itself is transparently derived from 'smile', so learners who know 'smile/smiling' can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Smilingly comes from the simple word smile ('show happiness with your mouth') plus -ing (making it an action) and -ly (making it describe how something is done), and so the parts put together make a word about the act of smiling; that's why smilingly means 'in a smiling way' or 'with a smile'.