What does urbanely mean?
Urbanely is an adverb meaning in an urban manner, typically with reference to the character, design, or arrangement of a city rather than to a speaker's politeness. It can characterize something shaped by dense development, metropolitan institutions, or city life, as in "an urbanely planned district." The word belongs to formal or literary English and is much less common than "urban," "urbanity," or "urbanized." Its meaning should not be confused with "urbane": "urbane" describes refined, sophisticated manners, whereas "urbanely" ordinarily refers to a manner characteristic of the city. Urbanely is formed from "urban" plus the adverb-forming suffix "-ly," ultimately drawing on Latin urbanus, meaning "of or belonging to a city." Although somewhat unusual in everyday speech, it is useful when the urban quality of a place or plan needs to be stated directly and economically.
adverbIn a manner characteristic of a city or of urban life and development.
- In a manner characteristic of a city or of urban life and development.
"The new district is planned urbanely, with mixed-use buildings and pedestrian routes rather than car-dependent streets."
"The new district is planned urbanely, with mixed-use buildings and pedestrian routes rather than car-dependent streets."
"The restored warehouse has been adapted urbanely, with shops and offices arranged around a shared courtyard."
Urbanely is easy to misread as meaning "politely": its root actually points to the city, while urbane is the word for refined manners.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of urbanely
Urbanely is an English adverb formed from urban plus the suffix -ly. Urban comes through Old French urbain from Latin urbanus, meaning "of or belonging to a city" and ultimately associated with urbs, "city." Related English forms include urbane, urbanity, and urbanization; the same Latin adjective underlies French urbain and Spanish urbano.
How urbanely is actually used
Rare, formal, and chiefly literary. It is especially natural before words such as "planned" or "designed" and does not ordinarily mean politely or courteously.
Easily confused with urbanely
Urbane describes refined, sophisticated manners, whereas urbanely means in a manner characteristic of a city or urban development.