motherly

adjective

moth·​er·​ly ˈmə-t͟hər-lē How to pronounce motherly (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother
motherly advice
2
: resembling a mother : maternal
motherliness noun

Examples of motherly in a Sentence

She took her motherly duties very seriously. she showed a sweet motherly tenderness toward the tiny kitten she was taking care of
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.
Which then draws parallels to the motherly figures in his life. Nick Romano, EW.com, 14 Oct. 2024 Margaret is there in her warm and cozy motherly role. Marc Berman, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 Goodspeed audiences saw how smartly McLane put her stamp on Rose, finding a motherly heart and soul that lingered through the whole show (whereas Merman was Merman, waiting to uncork a brassy finish). Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Jan. 2024 Chloé’s story, accompanied by nearly subliminal youth flashbacks, benefits from implicating Judith’s own motherly concern. Armond White, National Review, 2 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for motherly 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near motherly

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

motherly

adjective
moth·​er·​ly ˈmət͟h-ər-lē How to pronounce motherly (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother
motherly affection
2
: resembling a mother
motherliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on motherly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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