courteously

adverb

cour·​te·​ous·​ly
ˈkər-tē-əs-lē
British also ˈkȯr-
Synonyms of courteouslynext
: in a courteous manner

Word History

Etymology

alteration (influenced by courteous) of earlier curtysely, from Middle English curteisly, from curteis + -ly

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Courteously.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/courteously. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on courteously

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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