be civil
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In some cases, reconciliation might be partial - being able to go to the same family functions and be civil, for example.
From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026
They knew civil disobedience must be civil, peaceful resistance peaceful.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026
“It is supposed to be civil detention, but… it is a jail,” Michael Lukens of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, told NBC News in March.
From Salon • Jun. 24, 2025
“All we ask is that people just be civil and factual.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2023
“I feel—so, so terrible, Em. It was supposed to be civil disobedience. Like we talked about in Human Rights Club.”
From "Goodbye Stranger" by Rebecca Stead
