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.
Hazard is fondly remembered by many Chelsea fans as the most skilful player ever seen at Stamford Bridge. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026 Shortly after, Kylie spoke fondly of Swift on the Today Show. — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 27 July 2026 Baker fondly recalled filming several scenes with Johnny Depp in one of his first big roles. — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 27 July 2026 William remembered the school’s proximity to Windsor fondly during his candid appearance on The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy last year. — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 22 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 9 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fondly

Nglish: Translation of fondly for Spanish Speakers

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