gingerly
Americanadverb
adjective
adverb
adjective
Other Word Forms
- gingerliness noun
Etymology
Origin of gingerly
First recorded in 1510–20; ginger-, perhaps from Middle French gensor, genzor “delicate, pretty” (positive use of comparative of gent “high-born, noble,” also “beautiful, shapely,” from Latin genitus “begotten”; genital ) + -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Bearman climbed out gingerly, limping and holding his knees, before being taken to the medical centre, where he had an X-ray before being released.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
For presentation, gingerly prop the tofu against the pork, shingling it out slightly.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026
Jokic was slow to rise and walked gingerly to the sideline but stayed in the game.
From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026
He immediately signaled toward the bench for a sub and walked gingerly back to the sideline while grabbing toward his right knee.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 1, 2025
I shifted gingerly on the bed, my back stiff from bearing the weight of all those petticoats—perhaps wearing ten was too many.
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
