fondly

adverb

fond·​ly ˈfän-(d)lē How to pronounce fondly (audio)
1
archaic : in a foolish manner : foolishly
2
: in a fond manner : affectionately
spoke of her fondly
3
: in a willingly credulous manner
It would stun, I fondly hoped, the reader …—Annie Dillard

Examples of fondly in a Sentence

She remembers their time together fondly.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Many an alum fondly remembers trekking the 950-foot walkway to go for a swim on a hot, sticky July day. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Lotte caters, and Yoon reminisces fondly about trays of modeum jeon, assorted fritters and pancakes her family would order each New Year’s. — Vanessa Anderson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 To drink, Chiasson ordered his usual, a gin Martini, recalling fondly how Glück would fish the olives out of his glass. — Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Even as some Americans look fondly to Canada and Western Europe, with their generous welfare states, these countries have market economies with plenty of private enterprise. — Jason Thurlkill, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fondly

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fondly was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

fondlingly
fondly
fondness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fondly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fondly. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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