playfully
18
1.4
- adverb
- /ˈpleɪfəlɪ/
- The drunk keeps looking toward Lilly, grinning, commenting playfully to his friend, who's bored by it all.
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Watch on YouTubeBut then they'd playfully ruffle your hair and say how's my kid doing?
- But then they'd playfully ruffle your hair and say how's my kid doing?
- It also likes to debate and spar and playfully argue, which I see you do well.
- So it's all about subtle things my friends think about playfully.
- Across the road, a cow bellowed and somewhere by the wash, dogs were barking playfully.
- We can know what we want when we and we can playfully just actually do a dance when we're communicating.
- A text like that is playfully demanding, but it also does send a message to someone.
- And you, you kind of, you call out, you isolate, you know, you playfully isolate a member of the audience who is a, is a straight man.
- OK, so it's hierarchies of to go to another one of your tweets with I think you're playfully mocking Jeff Hawkins with saying his brains all the way down.
Examples
-
In the process, she hammered him playfully on the ribs and escaped his frantic attempts to retaliate.
Fiction book (1992) -
One was standing by her bicycle; two others tugged playfully at the handlebars and saddle, respectively.
Academic text (2007) -
Of course, in this film she was sort of playfully playing the role of the bad guy.
-
A gift from an admirer, she thought playfully, something to keep her busy and remind her of him.
Fiction book (1995) -
Hank steps over with an impish smile, then playfully throws the ball at her.
Fiction book (1990) -
"Help hold you up in the water," her father said as he playfully splashed water in Mary's direction.
Fiction book (1995) -
Their voices ring out playfully across the expanse of the darkening beach and light-laden sky.
Fiction book (1993) -
The wolves raced through the trees and over the meadow, playfully nipping each other's hindquarters.
Fiction book (1994) -
For example, frustrated humans furrow their brows and cheerful dogs wag their tails, bowing playfully.
Academic text (2017) -
The children played playfully in the backyard, laughing and chasing each other around the swings.
Synonyms
27
2.0
Said or done as a joke and not meant seriously
11
3.9
In a funny way that makes people laugh
5
3.0
In a funny way that makes people laugh
5
3.3
In a funny way that makes people laugh
3
4.6
In a playful way that causes small trouble to make people laugh
3
3.7
In a playful way that makes someone laugh or feel a little annoyed
3
5.7
In a playful, creative way that feels a little strange
1
4.6
In a cheerful, friendly way that makes people smile
1
6.7
To act in a playful and slightly naughty way that seems friendly
1
7.3
In a playful way that breaks small rules to make people laugh
1
3.6
To say or do something in a joking way without being serious
1
6.4
In a silly, foolish way like a clown
1
3.7
In a cheerful, relaxed way without worry
1
9.6
To act in a playful and slightly naughty way
1
5.1
In a lively and energetic way that shows excitement
1
7.1
In a joking way to make people laugh
In a playful, lively way that shows enjoyment
In a lively, playful way full of energy
In a lively, joyful way like when people laugh and play together
In a cheerful and lively way
In a playful joking way to make people laugh
In a playful, teasing way that shows you are joking
In a happy, lively way that shows joy
Antonyms
How Playful
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Playfully comes from the simple word play, meaning 'fun' or 'game', plus the parts -ful ('full of') and -ly (which makes it describe 'how' something is done). So, playfully means doing something in a fun, light way, like a child on a playground.