lowly
Americanadjective
-
humble in station, condition, or nature.
a lowly cottage.
-
low in growth or position.
-
humble in attitude, behavior, or spirit; meek.
- Synonyms:
- unpretentious, simple, modest
adjective
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humble or low in position, rank, status, etc
-
full of humility; meek
-
simple, unpretentious, or plain
adverb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of lowly
A Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at low 1, -ly
Explanation
Lowly things aren't considered to be important or impressive. Your lowly position on a sports team might make you best suited to carry all of the players' equipment. When a person is described as lowly, the world often refers to their job or social class. A lowly janitor might not get as much respect as the CEO of a huge company, even if she's a kinder person. A lowly member of an AAA baseball team might only dream about joining the major leagues. The adjective lowly has been around since the 14th century, from low, "not high," and also "humble in rank."
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.
See Examples For:
Eyebrows were immediately raised, because at the time Newcastle were a lowly 19th in the Premier League.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
“I’m just one lowly person that was working there.”
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
For instance, Washington would have been mortified to hear his rigorously trained Virginia Regiment characterized as a lowly militia.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 27, 2026
After the Mavericks, they’ll have tough games against Oklahoma City, Golden State and Phoenix before finishing against lowly Utah on April 12.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2026
“So, tell me, Ronan,” she asks, “how long have you lived here? Are you a Caper or a lowly wash-ashore like me?”
From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Ephraim, younger and less weathered, will perform the lowlier chores, like scrubbing the floors and emptying the waste into the waves.
From The New Yorker ● Oct. 18, 2019
Blackburn Rovers triumphed in 1995, but now languish in a lowlier division; most fans, and players, will remain keen on the biggest clubs.
From Economist ● May 2, 2016
The Olympics showed us a different model: superfit, lowlier but disciplined sports people whom I very much doubt were not at it day and night after competing.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 3, 2013
One explanation is that England, wittingly or not, approach their matches against the lowlier sides in a different way.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 12, 2011
One lowlier simple strain of human love be mine.
From The Isle of Palms and Other Poems by Wilson, John Lyde
George parlays this job into a major’s rank, but only in the Virginia Militia, not the Royal Army, whose officers continue to treat him like the lowliest private.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Sarah, not her real name, explained: “There was most definitely a culture of fear across the whole store - from the lowliest of the low, to the most senior person.”
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2024
This colorful, wreath-shaped cake is featured from January 6th until Fat Tuesday in the finest bakeries and the lowliest of supermarkets and just about everywhere in between.
From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2024
When their numbers dwindle, entire ecosystems can be at risk, from the lowliest marine worms all the way up to the charismatic megafauna we watch on television.
From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2024
He was not accustomed to being called “honored master” by even his lowliest hireling.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
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.
