humbly
Americanadverb
-
in a way that is not proud or arrogant; modestly.
He humbly accepted the award on behalf of his friends and colleagues.
-
in a way that shows insignificance, inferiority, or subservience.
I made my suggestions humbly, realizing the vast experience of the others in the room.
-
in a respectfully courteous way.
I humbly request that you give us some time to discuss this privately.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of humbly
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.
For your evening enjoyment, and to help get you in the spirit of the holiday weekend, I’d humbly suggest:
From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026
I’m no financial expert, but if someone tries to sell you a piece of pie for $28 million — humbly, I think you should pass.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026
"I really want to celebrate the fact that there are so many women around the world who are working so humbly on domestic skills ... like sewing, hand knitting," she said.
From Barron's ● Feb. 18, 2026
Almost four years have passed since Elena Rybakina celebrated winning Wimbledon by humbly raising her right arm in the air.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026
She remained in her seat with her accelerating heart and sweating palms, and humbly inclined her head.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
