pleasantly

Everyday

1. Pleasantly means in a nice, enjoyable or friendly way. tree →
2. Pleasantly also means to a nice degree: «pleasantly warm» is warm in a comfortable way. tree →

In the lessons

In stories it describes friendly smiles, nice weather and good surprises. Often used in «pleasantly surprised», which is a modest, understated way of saying you liked something more than you expected. Phrases: pleasantly surprised, smile pleasantly, pleasantly warm, pleasantly cool.

Examples

• She smiled pleasantly at the new neighbours. tree →
• The water was pleasantly warm. tree →
• I was pleasantly surprised by my test mark. tree →
• A pleasantly cool breeze came off the sea. tree →
• The afternoon passed pleasantly in the garden. tree →
• He talked pleasantly with the shopkeeper. tree →
• The evening passed pleasantly like the one preceding. tree →

Note

Adverb from pleasant + -ly. Spelling: pleas-ANT-ly (pleasant, not «plesent»). «Pleasantly surprised» often means «happier than expected», a kind of mild understatement.