Gingerly

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Gingerly

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

adverb and adjective

Pronunciation

JIN-jer-lee  /ˈdʒɪndʒəli/

Definition

In a careful, cautious manner, so as to avoid injury or discomfort; with great care and delicacy.

Plain meaning

Gingerly means very carefully and cautiously — moving gingerly is moving as if the ground might give way, or as if you might hurt yourself or disturb something fragile.

Register

Neutral to slightly literary. Common in descriptive writing and narrative. Implies a quality of cautious delicacy that plain words like carefully or cautiously do not quite capture.