cleanly

[ adjective klen-lee; adverb kleen-lee ]

adjective

, clean·li·er, clean·li·est.

1. personally neat; careful to keep or make clean:

   The cat is by nature a cleanly animal.

2. habitually kept clean.
3. Obsolete. cleansing; making clean.

adverb

1. in a clean manner.

cleanly

/ ˈklɛnlɪnɪs; ˈklɛnlɪlɪ /

adverb

1. in a fair manner
2. easily or smoothly

   the screw went into the wood cleanly

adjective

1. habitually clean or neat

Derived Forms

• cleanlily, adverb
• cleanliness, noun

Other Words From

• clean·li·ness [klen, -lee-nis], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cleanly¹

before 900; Middle English clenlich ( e ), Old English clǣnlīc, equivalent to clǣne clean + -līc -ly

Example Sentences

He would strike 'knuckleballs', where rather than the ball spiralling through the air cleanly, it would wobble erratically.

From BBC

The error put two on with no outs for Will Smith, who chopped a grounder to the shortstop hole that Anthony Volpe fielded cleanly.

From Los Angeles Times

And he beat him cleanly, but his right-footed shot bounced off the left post and across the front of the goal without crossing the line.

From Los Angeles Times

"This agreement helps accelerate a new technology to meet energy needs cleanly and reliably, and unlock the full potential of AI for everyone."

From BBC

The chances of the bottom part of the rocket, known as the Super Heavy booster, being caught so cleanly on the first attempt seemed slim.

From BBC