sensibly

S1E1N1S1I1B3L1Y4
/ˈsɛnsəbli/[ˈsɛnsɪ̈bli]

adverb

In a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense.

Less commonScrabble 13

Meanings

adverbsensibly (comparative more sensibly, superlative most sensibly)

comparative more sensibly · superlative most sensibly

  1. In a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense.

    [...] but in the damp conditions prevailing the driver sensibly was unwilling to attempt the climb up through Combe Down tunnel without help, for fear of slipping to a standstill in the unventilated bore, [...].

    1960 March, “Motive Power Miscellany: Western Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 184
  2. datedformalIn a way that can be sensed or noticed; perceptibly.

    Time sensibly all things impairs.

    a. 1685, Wentworth Dillon, 4th Earl of Roscommon, The Sixth Ode of the Third Book of Horace
    3 more examples

    This four months' lastingness would doubtless be sensibly reduced if the tent were subject to numerous transportations and repitchings.

    1873, Thomas Wiltberger Evans, Edward A. Crane, John Swinburne, History of the American Ambulance Established in Paris During the Siege of 1870-71

    4. P. californicum n. sp. Very similar in color and sculpture to seriatum. The form is, however, sensibly narrower, averaging very nearly two and one half times as long as wide, while in seriatum the length is ahout two and three- tenths times the width.

    1905, Transactions of the American Entomological Society, volume 31, page 216

    According to Aristotle, […] he ravages of the deluge […] were felt most sensibly "in ancient Hellas, which is the country about Dodona and the river Achelous, for that river has changed its bed in many places."

    1918, James George Frazer, Folk-Lore In The Old Testament, volume 1, page 148

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbwith good sense or in a reasonable or intelligent manner

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Englishsensible
  2. Proto-Indo-European*leyg-
  3. Proto-Germanic*līką
  4. Englishsensibly

From sensible + -ly.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian разумно
  • разумно (razumno)in a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
Catalan assenyadament
  • assenyadamentin a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
Finnish järkevästi, mielekkäästi
  • järkevästiin a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • mielekkäästiin a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
French raisonnablement
  • raisonnablementin a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
Italian ragionevolmente, sensatamente
  • ragionevolmentein a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • sensatamentein a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • accortamentein a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
  • assennatamentein a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
Latin sapienter
  • sapienterin a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
Polish rozsądnie
  • rozsądniein a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
Spanish prudentemente
  • prudentementein a sensible manner; in a way that shows good sense
Cite this entry
APA

sensibly. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensibly

MLA

“sensibly.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensibly. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sensibly,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sensibly.

Source: sensibly on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.