Basic Details
Word: Patiently
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: In a calm way, without getting annoyed, while waiting or while dealing with something difficult.
Synonyms: calmly, tolerantly, steadily
Antonyms: impatiently, restlessly, hastily
How to Spell Patiently
Syllables: pa - tient - ly
Tricky part: The sh sound is spelt t, with ie after it: pa-tient. It is patient + ly, so nothing is dropped.
Watch out for: pashently, patiantly, paitently
Memory tip: Find the tie in the middle: pa-tie-ntly. A patient person could sit tied to a chair and still wait calmly.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The nurse patiently answered all our questions.
Example 2: We waited patiently for the rain to stop.
Example 3: My grandfather patiently taught me to tie my shoelaces.
Fun Fact
Herons hunt by standing patiently in shallow water, sometimes without moving for many minutes, until a fish swims close enough to grab.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word patiently as it is used in the sentence:
The farmer waited patiently for the first monsoon clouds.
a) restlessly
b) tolerantly
c) calmly
d) steadily
Show answer
a) restlessly. A patient farmer waits without fuss; a restless one keeps fretting and pacing.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
pa_ie_tly
a) s, n
b) t, n
c) t, m
d) c, n
Show answer
b) t, n. The sh sound here is written t, as in nation, and patient ends in nt.
Spell-o-Spell
Choose the meaning of the only misspelt word:
1. eagerly 2. anxiously 3. diligently 4. patiantly
a) calmly, without complaining about waiting
b) carefully and with hard work
c) with a strong wish to do something
d) in a worried way
Show answer
a) calmly, without complaining about waiting. Patient is spelt with ie, so patiantly has the wrong vowel.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these people is acting patiently?
a) a girl waiting calmly in a long ticket queue
b) a man pushing to the front of a line
c) a child shouting because dinner is late
d) a boy honking again and again in traffic
Show answer
a) a girl waiting calmly in a long ticket queue
2. Patiently describes how someone ____.
a) waits or works calmly
b) runs very fast
c) speaks very loudly
d) eats very quickly
Show answer
a) waits or works calmly
