Standard Lemma guide

expressively

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

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.

  • US: /ɪkˈspɹɛ.sɪv.li/
  • US: /ɛkˈspɹɛ.sɪv.li/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In an expressive manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • You can play the exercises pretty well on piano, fair enough, but can you play the movement expressively?

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

with expression; in an expressive manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • she gave the order to the waiter, using her hands very expressively

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: inexpressively

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English expressive Middle English -ly English -ly English expressively From expressive + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: expressivament — in expressive manner
  • Czech: expresivně — in expressive manner
  • Finnish: ekspressiivisesti — in expressive manner
  • Italian: espressivamente — in expressive manner
  • Portuguese: expressivamente — in expressive manner
  • Russian: вырази́тельно (vyrazítelʹno) — in expressive manner
  • Russian: экспресси́вно (ekspressívno) — in expressive manner
  • Spanish: expresivamente — in expressive manner