childishly

«childishly» in Mova's school dictionary: not right for someone's age (said of older children and… — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 1 sentence of Mova's corpora that use it.

part of speech

adverb (childishly; more childishly)

meaning for a pupil

1) In a silly, immature way that is not right for someone's age (said of older children and adults, usually as criticism). tree →

2) In a way like a child, simply and innocently (childishly happy). tree →

sense in the lessons

In stories it criticises a grown-up or older child who sulks, stamps or throws a tantrum. Sometimes it is kind, describing simple joy. It tells the reader someone is acting younger than they are. Similar: «immaturely»; opposite «maturely».

examples

• The two men argued childishly over a parking space. tree →
• He childishly refused to share the remote. tree →
• She stamped her foot childishly and stormed off. tree →
• Grandad laughed childishly at his own joke. tree →
• Stop behaving so childishly; you're twelve! tree →
• They were childishly excited about the snow. tree →

note

Adverb from «childish». Trap: «childish» is usually negative (silly, immature), while «childlike» is positive (innocent, full of wonder). «Childlike wonder» is praise; «childish behaviour» is criticism.

In the corpora

• Grown-ups sometimes behave childishly; you can love them and still see they got it wrong.

Trees and pragmatics

Every meaning and example of «childishly» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.