gallantly
Americanadverb
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in a way that shows exceptional politeness and attentiveness to others, especially women.
My husband gallantly offered to hitchhike to a gas station while I remained on the boat with our dog.
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in a courageous, spirited, or noble-minded way.
He fell while gallantly leading his platoon in one of the hardest-fought battles of the war.
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in a grand, showy, or magnificent way.
I've heard stories about how he would parade around gallantly in full knightly attire at the Renaissance fair.
Other Word Forms
- quasi-gallantly adverb
- supergallantly adverb
- ungallantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of gallantly
First recorded in 1550–60; gallant ( def. ) + -ly
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I should take my leave,” he said gallantly, the sting of losing the burrow not so sharp now.
From Literature
"And weakling or not, he fought that cliff gallantly, Val the miller. He fought it to exhaustion."
From Literature
Even as she briefly abandoned Boaz to gallantly scrub at the graffiti, her mind came up blank.
From Literature
“We will help you deliver the mail,” Penelope announced gallantly.
From Literature
At Primavera Sound Barcelona, Rhian Teasdale, 32, emerges from smoke, stained the color orange by stage lights, gallantly flexing her arms in the air.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
