Basic Details
Word: Calmly
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: In a quiet, relaxed way, without showing fear, anger or excitement.
Synonyms: coolly, serenely, quietly, placidly
Antonyms: frantically, nervously, angrily
How to Spell Calmly
Syllables: calm - ly
Tricky part: Calm has a silent l that must be written before the m. The ending is a plain -ly with no e.
Watch out for: camly, calmley, kalmly
Memory tip: Calm, palm and balm all hide a quiet l before the m; keep it and add ly.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The pilot calmly told the passengers to fasten their seat belts.
Example 2: When the power failed, our teacher calmly lit a candle and went on with the story.
Example 3: Answer each question calmly, even if the first one looks hard.
Fun Fact
Calm probably goes back to the Greek kauma, the burning heat of midday, when people and animals rested and everything went still.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. disipline 2. meditasion 3. pilgrimmage 4. calmly
a) a practice of quiet thinking or focus for the mind
b) training that teaches people to obey rules or control themselves
c) a trip to a holy place
d) in a quiet, relaxed way, without fear or anger
Show answer
d) in a quiet, relaxed way, without fear or anger. Pilgrimage takes one m, discipline hides a c after the s and meditation ends in -tion, which leaves calmly.
Word Connection
Choose the word opposite in meaning to calmly as used in the sentence:
In spite of the shouting crowd, the referee calmly explained his decision to both captains.
a) serenely
b) frantically
c) coolly
d) placidly
Show answer
b) frantically. Frantically means in a wild, panicky way, the opposite of the referee's steady explanation.
Mingle-Mangle
The sentence contains a jumbled word. Choose the word it hides:
The old fisherman ymllac mended his net as the storm clouds gathered.
a) clumsily
b) clammy
c) calmly
d) calmness
Show answer
c) calmly. A fisherman mending his net while a storm gathers does it calmly, and ymllac spells nothing else here.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
calmley
a) e
b) l
c) m
d) y
Show answer
a) e. Calm takes -ly directly; the e does not belong.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Like calm, the word ____ has a silent l.
a) film
b) salt
c) salmon
d) silk
Show answer
c) salmon
2. Complete the sentence: 'After the storm, a deep ____ settled over the sea.'
a) calmed
b) calm
c) calmly
d) calming
Show answer
b) calm
