lowly
Americanadjective
-
lowlier,
comparative
-
lowliest
superlative
-
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
-
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:
An up-and-down start hit rock bottom this weekend when a loss to the lowly Cardinals dropped Los Angeles’s record to 2-4.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026
Korda has had only two top-10s since that major triumph at the start of the summer and finished in a lowly share of 50th place at the recent FM Championship.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
The ultraviolent 1991 film was directed by her former husband Renny Harlin and co-starred Samuel L. Jackson as a lowly private investigator.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026
About 10% fall to the lowly one-star category.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 13, 2026
"By the by, you two haven't met, have you? Widge, this is Chris Beeston. Not so long ago he was a lowly prentice like us."
From "The Shakespeare Stealer" by Gary L. Blackwood
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
Possibly, too, meekness implies a lowlier position than long-suffering does.
From The Expositor's Bible: Colossians and Philemon by Alexander Maclaren
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
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
"Everyone involved, from the lowliest runners to the star names, has been shaken up by this," they added.
From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2023
He was not accustomed to being called “honored master” by even his lowliest hireling.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
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