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Synonyms

humanly

American  
[hyoo-muhn-lee, yoo-] / ˈhyu mən li, ˈyu- /

adverb

  1. in a human manner.

  2. by human means.

  3. within the limits of human knowledge and capability.

    Is it humanly possible to predict the future?

  4. from or according to the viewpoint of humankind.

humanly British  
/ ˈhjuːmənlɪ /

adverb

  1. by human powers or means

  2. in a human or humane manner

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of humanly

First recorded in 1605–15; human + -ly

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.

"We have had a logistical problem, and we have done everything humanly possible to reduce it," said Piero Corvetto, head of the election commission.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

The actress confesses she was "conscious and scared" of whether she could portray the character and story "as honestly and bravely and humanly as possible".

From BBC • Jan. 2, 2026

All you need is a 6-foot-5 Norwegian who has made it his life’s work to rack up as many goals as humanly possible.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

An athlete pushing the boundaries of what’s humanly possible are what make games interesting.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2025

Only I’d sleep for as long as humanly possible.

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

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.