meekly
Americanadverb
-
in a humbly patient or quiet manner.
When addressing a lawyer during oral arguments, the judge often starts meekly with, "Counsel, may I interrupt?"
-
in an overly submissive or compliant manner.
Not knowing what we were getting into, we meekly agreed.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of meekly
Explanation
Do something in a shy, self-effacing way, and you're doing it meekly. While some students argue with a teacher over a bad grade, others simply accept it meekly. Aggressive dogs growl menacingly at strangers, but submissive dogs bow their heads and meekly wag their tails. If you're very reserved, you might find it hard to speak up for yourself, tending instead to listen meekly to what others say without offering your own opinion. The adverb meekly, along with the related adjective meek, has a Scandinavian root — it's related to the Old Norse mjukr, "soft and pliant."
Vocabulary lists containing meekly
Where You See Yourself
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Sunbearer Trials
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Meekly, I told her that I hoped I would get better, but in the meantime things were pretty bad.
From Slate • Nov. 12, 2018
Meekly, of course, but his meekness is deceptive: even when ordering coffee, he knows exactly what he wants.
From The Guardian • Oct. 15, 2016
Meekly and sadly, impractical Lord Darnley withdrew the motion.
From Time Magazine Archive
Meekly Mrs. Greenberg handed him her golf stick.
From Time Magazine Archive
Meekly, Luke pulled over a padded chair and sat down.
From "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
