manly

1 of 2

adverb

man·​ly ˈman-lē How to pronounce manly (audio)
: in a manly manner

manly

2 of 2

adjective

manlier; manliest
1
: having qualities traditionally associated with a man : strong, virile
2
: appropriate in character to a man
manly sports

Examples of manly in a Sentence

Adjective He wasn't manly enough to fight. He has a deep, manly voice.
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.
Adjective
There are men without shirts and men with long white beards doing manly things on the side of a country road. Sarah Jones, Vulture, 15 July 2024 Come for the unraveling of manly sanities, stay for Dafoe's farts and a scene-stealing seagull. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024 Just about every memory of his father and uncle turns on the question of masculinity, how manly qualities must triumph over the pitiful feminine. Robert Rubsam, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2024 Starting with Dennis Hopper’s The Last Movie (1971), Kristofferson brought his manly, craggy persona to the fore in such films as Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973), the Michael Cimino debacle Heaven’s Gate (1980) and, as a corrupt sheriff, John Sayles’ Lone Star (1996). Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for manly 

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

Middle English manli "befitting a man, bravely, resolutely, courteously," going back to Old English manliche, from man man entry 1 + -liche -ly entry 2

Adjective

Middle English manli "human, male, brave, resolute, noble," from man man entry 1 + -li -ly entry 1

First Known Use

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of manly was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near manly

Cite this Entry

“Manly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manly. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

manly

adjective
man·​ly
ˈman-lē
manlier; manliest
1
: having qualities usually expected of a man : strong
2
: appropriate in character to a man
manly sports
manliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on manly

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!