What does kindly mean?
Word: Kindly
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Kindly means in a kind, gentle and caring way; also used politely to mean please.
Synonyms: gently, warmly, generously, nicely
Antonyms: unkindly, rudely
How do you spell kindly?
Syllables: kind - ly
Tricky part: No e comes between the d and the l: kindely is the slip students make most.
Watch out for: kindely, kindelly
Memory tip: Picture the d and the l holding hands, with no room for an e to squeeze between them.
Idioms and Phrases
- not take kindly to: to dislike or resent something Example: "Our cat does not take kindly to baths."
Kindly in a sentence
Example 1: The old shopkeeper kindly let us shelter from the rain.
Example 2: Kindly switch off your phones during the exam.
Example 3: She smiled kindly at the nervous new student.
Fun Fact
Indian English often uses kindly to mean please, as in 'Kindly do the needful', a phrase seldom heard in Britain today.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word kindly as used in the sentence:
The librarian spoke kindly to the boy who had returned the book a week late.
a) harshly
b) patiently
c) softly
d) politely
Show answer
a) harshly. Softly, politely and patiently all agree with kindly; harshly is the opposite.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
k_ndl_
a) e,y
b) y,y
c) i,y
d) i,i
Show answer
c) i,y. Kind gives the i, and the adverb ending ly finishes with a y.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
The teacher dlkniy agreed to give us one more day for the project.
a) kingly
b) dimly
c) kindly
d) kidney
Show answer
c) kindly. Kidney needs an e, kingly a g and dimly an m; a teacher who gives extra time is acting kindly.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. curtious 2. generus 3. kindly 4. thoughtfull
a) happy to give or share
b) polite and respectful
c) thinking about what others need
d) in a warm and gentle way
Show answer
d) in a warm and gentle way. Courteous begins cour and ends eous, generous ends in ous and thoughtful has one l at the end; kindly is spelt correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which reply shows someone speaking kindly to a child who has spilt juice?
a) Go and sit outside the kitchen door.
b) Never mind, let us clean it up together.
c) You always spill everything you touch.
d) Look what a mess you have made now.
Show answer
b) Never mind, let us clean it up together.
2. In which sentence does kindly mean please?
a) They treated the puppy kindly.
b) Kindly close the gate behind you.
c) He kindly carried my heavy bag.
d) She smiled kindly at the baby.
Show answer
b) Kindly close the gate behind you.
