: in a patient manner : with calmness or without complaint or hurry in spite of delays, difficulties, tedium, etc.
The bank customers waited patiently for the next teller.
She very patiently answered all our questions.
It wasn't until I was in my late teens, when my brother Caleb patiently taught me to play racquetball, that I realized I was coordinated enough to participate in athletic endeavors.—Rhoda Janzen

Examples of patiently in a Sentence

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.
A couple of days before the Ann Demeulemeester show at Paris Fashion Week, eager models are standing in the foyer of the brand’s studio in the Marais, waiting patiently with their picture in hand. — Lucy Maguire, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026 Sitting patiently on Chris Carlisle’s lap with a little pink bow in her hair was toddler Laura Carlisle, born to Califia in a parking lot two years ago, later adopted by Christopher and Anne Marie. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026 These ancient systems are silent observers of history, capturing thousands of years’ worth of stories in depths of peat that patiently await discovery. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Todd makes the kind of patiently vulnerable songs that stick with you. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patiently

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

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

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