gentle

/ˈdʒɛntəl/
kind and soft in manner

She spoke in a gentle voice to calm the crying baby.

The soft and kind tone of her voice helped soothe the baby.


formal

Kind and tender in behavior or manner

The nurse handled the patient with a gentle touch.

The nurse was careful and soft when touching the patient.

Often used to describe actions or people who are considerate and mild.

formal

Not harsh or severe; mild in nature

The gentle breeze made the afternoon pleasant.

The soft wind made the afternoon enjoyable.

Can describe weather, sounds, or other non-human elements.

Collocations

gentle toucha soft and careful touchgentle breezea soft and mild windgentle remindera polite and soft reminder

Related Phrases

gentle giantphrase
a large person who is actually kind and soft

Pro Tip

Common Usage

Use 'gentle' to describe people or things that are kind, soft, or mild.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

'Gentle' can describe both people and non-human things, but always implies softness or kindness.

Word Origin

From Middle English 'gentil,' from Old French 'gentil,' from Latin 'gentilis' (of the same family or clan).

Usage Notes

Can describe people, actions, or natural elements. Often used to convey kindness and softness.

Word Breakdown

gent
related to family or clan
root
+
-le
suffix indicating manner or quality
suffix
English Dictionary