Standard Lemma guide

daintily

adv · 3 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˈdeɪntɪli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: D EY1 N T AH0 L IY2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a dainty manner, delicately.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: daintifully

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a refined manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • she nibbled daintily at her cake

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

in a delicate manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the invitation cards were written up daintily in white and gold

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English deyntely; equivalent to dainty + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Polish: arcydelikatnie — Translations