with low volume; "speak softly but carry a big stick";
"she spoke quietly to the child"; "the radio was playing softly" Synonym(s):softly, quietly Antonym(s):aloud, loud, loudly
in a manner that is pleasing to the senses; "she smiled softly"
with little weight or force; "she kissed him lightly on the forehead" Synonym(s):lightly, softly, gently
used as a direction in music; to be played relatively softly Synonym(s):piano, softly Antonym(s):forte, loudly
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Dictionary De - En
De - Es
De - Pt