Standard Lemma guide

sensibly

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.

  • /ˈsɛnsəbli/
  • [ˈsɛnsɪ̈bli]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: S EH1 N S AH0 B L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adv

Meaning 2

In a way that can be sensed or noticed; perceptibly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, formal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adverb

Meaning 3

with good sense or in a reasonable or intelligent manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he acted sensibly in the crisis
  • speak more sanely about these affairs
  • acted quite reasonably

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: sanely, reasonably

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English sensible 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 sensibly From sensible + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Armenian: խելոք (xelokʻ) — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Armenian: խելացի (xelacʻi) — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Bulgarian: разумно (razumno) — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Catalan: assenyadament — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Finnish: järkevästi — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Finnish: mielekkäästi — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • French: raisonnablement — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Italian: ragionevolmente — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Italian: sensatamente — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Italian: accortamente — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Italian: assennatamente — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Latin: sapienter — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Polish: rozsądnie — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Serbo-Croatian: razumno — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Serbo-Croatian: разумно — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • Spanish: prudentemente — in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense