cleanly

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈklɛnli/ UK /ˈkliːnli/ See IPA manual

Freq #28808

Meanings

1

adv
In a neat, smooth, and precise way.

The knife cut cleanly through the rope.
2

adv
In a way that produces little dirt or pollution.

The new engine burns fuel much more cleanly.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adv · in a neat, smooth, and... neatly

Opposites

dirty uncleanly

Word family

Forms cleanlier

Derived forms cleanlilycleanlinessovercleanlyuncleanly

Etymology

From Middle English clenly, clenliche, clanly, from Old English clǣnlīċ (“cleanly, pure, excellent”), equivalent to clean + -ly.

clenly Middle English clǣnlīċ Old English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# cleanly

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adv
**IPA (US):** /ˈklɛnli/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈkliːnli/
**Frequency rank:** 28808

## Meanings
1. In a neat, smooth, and precise way.
2. In a way that produces little dirt or pollution.

## Examples
- The knife cut cleanly through the rope.
- The new engine burns fuel much more cleanly.

## Antonyms
- dirty
- uncleanly

## Derived Forms
- cleanlily
- cleanliness
- overcleanly
- uncleanly

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: clenly
- Root: clǣnlīċ

## Etymology
From Middle English clenly, clenliche, clanly, from Old English clǣnlīċ (“cleanly, pure, excellent”), equivalent to clean + -ly.

## AI Etymology
Cleanly is from Middle English clenly, clenliche, clanly, from Old English clǣnlīċ (“cleanly, pure, excellent”), equivalent to clean + -ly. Important historical forms include Middle English clenly, and Old English clǣnlīċ. In present-day use, it can mean in a neat, smooth, and precise way, or in a way that produces little dirt or pollution. Derived formations include cleanlily, cleanliness, overcleanly, uncleanly.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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cleanly

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