attentively B2 Topic:Mind & Cognition US /əˈtɛntɪvli/ See IPA manual Freq #43498 Meanings 1 adv In a way that shows careful attention. The children listened attentively to the story. Etymology AI details From Middle English attentifly, attentifli, equivalent to attentive + -ly. attentifly Middle English View etymology graph -> Topics Mind & Cognition External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # attentively **Type:** Word **Level:** B2 **Part of speech:** adv **IPA (US):** /əˈtɛntɪvli/ **Frequency rank:** 43498 ## Meanings 1. In a way that shows careful attention. ## Examples - The children listened attentively to the story. ## Roots and Affixes - Root: attentifly ## Etymology From Middle English attentifly, attentifli, equivalent to attentive + -ly. ## AI Etymology Attentively is from Middle English attentifly, attentifli, equivalent to attentive plus -ly. The suffix -ly recasts equivalent to attentive as an adverb: the lexical idea remains recognizable, but the word now describes manner, degree, or circumstance rather than naming the quality by itself. In use as an adverb, attentively denotes in a way that shows careful attention. Typical contexts include “The children listened attentively to the story”. ## Topics - Mind & Cognition markdown