Peacefully

/ˈpiːsfəli/

adverbBeginner📊CommonManner
1 meaning2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

1

In a manner free from disturbance; calmly and quietly.

/ˈpiːsfəli/

adverbpositiveBeginner
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In a calm, quiet, and non-violent way.

The protestors demonstrated peacefully.

💡 Simply: Imagine a really calm situation, like when you're snuggled up under a blanket and everything is super quiet. That's when things are happening peacefully, meaning everything is calm and quiet, without any trouble.

👶 For kids: Doing something without any fighting or noise, like when you're playing quietly.

More Examples

2

She closed her eyes and drifted peacefully to sleep.

3

They lived together peacefully for many years.

How It's Used

General

"The baby slept peacefully in her crib."

Politics

"The countries resolved their differences peacefully."

Nature

"The deer grazed peacefully in the meadow."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

live in peace

To exist without conflict or disturbance.

"After the divorce, she hoped to live in peace."

peace of mind

A feeling of being free from worry or anxiety.

"Buying insurance gave her peace of mind."

From 'peaceful' + '-ly'. 'Peaceful' comes from 'peace' (Old French 'pais', from Latin 'pax') + '-ful' (Old English '-full'). The '-ly' suffix is from Old English, forming adverbs.

The adverb 'peacefully' began to appear in English texts in the 16th century, often alongside discussions of political and social harmony.

Memory tip

Picture a dove (peace) flying gently (peacefully).

Word Origin

LanguageOld English & Latin
Original meaning

"freedom from disturbance; tranquility; agreement"

sleep peacefullylive peacefullyprotest peacefullydie peacefullyresolve peacefully

Common misspellings

peacefullyypeacefullly

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written