flexibly

Flexibly is an adverb that describes performing an action with adaptability or willingness to adjust to different conditions. It indicates the manner in which something is done rather than the outcome. It commonly modifies verbs, as in “The schedule can be flexibly adjusted,” or “They work flexibly to meet deadlines.” It can also appear with adjectives or phrases to convey a degree of adaptability, such as “flexibly interpreted guidelines” or “flexibly applied rules.”

Flexibly derives from the adjective flexible, which comes from Latin flexibilis meaning capable of being bent; the adverb form was formed in English by adding -ly. The word has been in use since the late Middle English period. The comparative and superlative forms are “more flexibly” and “most flexibly.”

Usage and nuance: Use flexibly when you want to emphasize adaptability rather than rigidity. It is common in business, policy, and planning discussions, as well as in user-centered design and software development, to describe adjustable features or processes. In formal contexts, alternatives such as adaptively or elastically may be preferred for precision, but flexibly remains widely understood and idiomatic.

Related terms include flexibility (noun) and flexible (adjective). Related concepts include adaptability, elasticity, pliancy, and resilience.