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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
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
suffixEnglish Dictionary