Teasingly means doing something in a playful, gentle way that pokes fun at someone without trying to hurt their feelings. When your older brother teasingly calls you “professor” after you correct his grammar, he's joking around, not genuinely mocking you. When a friend teasingly pretends to be shocked that you actually cleaned your room, she's being playful, not mean.

The key difference between friendly teasing and bullying is the spirit behind it. Friendly teasing is light, like when teammates joke with each other after practice. Everyone is supposed to be in on the joke, and it should stop if someone's feelings get hurt.

You might speak teasingly when you say something with a smile or a twinkle in your eye that shows you're kidding. A teacher might teasingly ask if you suddenly remembered to turn in your homework on time.