Softly has 5 different meanings across 1 category:
Adverb
Adverb
1
with low volume
"speak softly but carry a big stick"
"she spoke quietly to the child"
"the radio was playing softly"
2
in a manner that is pleasing to the senses
"she smiled softly"
3
with little weight or force
"she kissed him lightly on the forehead"
4
used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly
"The conductor raised his baton and marked piano on the score, instructing the orchestra to play that passage softly."
5
In a soft manner; gently.
"She whispered her secrets to him softly so no one else could hear."
Example Sentences
"speak softly but carry a big stick"
adverb
"she spoke quietly to the child"
adverb
"the radio was playing softly"
adverb
"she smiled softly"
adverb
"she kissed him lightly on the forehead"
adverb
Origin
The word softly comes from Middle English softely, which was formed by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective soft. This construction simply meant "in a soft manner," reflecting how the adverb evolved directly from its base form in earlier English.