Standard Lemma guide

coyly

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˈkɔɪli/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɔɪli
  • CMU ARPABET: K OY1 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a coy manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a coy manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • she pouted and looked at him coyly

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English coy Proto-Indo-European *leyg-der. Proto-Germanic *līkąder. Proto-Germanic *-līkaz Proto-Germanic *-ê Proto-Germanic *-līkê Proto-West Germanic *-līkē Old English -līċe Middle English -ly English -ly English coyly From coy + -ly.