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.
Hooks looked back fondly at his time on-staff. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026 Gray, who hasn’t spoken fondly of his time in pinstripes, also walked one and struck out nine. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 Almost three years later, Katseye’s members don’t reflect so fondly on the process. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 25 June 2026 The Southwest Conference is fondly remembered around these parts, although its demise is over 30 years old. — Chris Branch, New York Times, 1 July 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 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fondly

Nglish: Translation of fondly for Spanish Speakers

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