Nimbly
adv.capable, resilientprofessional
What it means
With quick, light, and skillful movement or thought.
Reach for it when describing a quick and skilful movement or adjustment
She nimbly revised the route when the bridge closed.
Choose between these
8- everyday
when speed is all the sentence needs
not when Quickly does not promise lightness, accuracy, or adaptation.
- professional
when skill and precision matter more than speed
not when Deft action may be slow and carefully planned.
- professional
flexibly
when willingness to adapt is the point
not when Flexible behavior may be deliberate and slow.
- professional
when a transition avoids disruption
not when Smoothness can come from preparation without quick adjustment.
- formal
adroitly
when clever handling of a difficult situation deserves praise
not when Adroitly is formal and often figurative rather than physical.
- formal
agilely
when controlled quick movement is the literal point
not when The rare adverb sounds technical and awkward in ordinary praise.
- literary
lightly
when little force or weight characterizes movement
not when Lightly can mean gently or unseriously rather than skilfully.
- literary
when rapid completion creates the effect
not when Swiftness alone can be clumsy or poorly judged.
Said against
3- clumsily
- slowly
- rigidly
It naturally appears in
3- move nimbly
The rescue dog can move nimbly across broken ground.
- respond nimbly
Small suppliers often respond nimbly to unusual requests.
- nimbly avoid
She nimbly avoided the false choice in the question.
The word family
2Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adverb sense: in a nimble manner opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.