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:
It’s unheard of for Cabinet members or the vice president to take such a lowly job.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
One lowly bacterium possesses a flagellum—a tiny tail or rotor.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 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
The rap legend is a lowly third, behind Bruno Mars.
From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2026
I do not want her to think lowly of me.
From "The Misfits" by James Howe
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
Here, too, in lowlier grass-grown graves, lie a number of the native Christian community.
From Among the Wild Tribes of the Afghan Frontier A Record of Sixteen Years' Close Intercourse with the Natives of the Indian Marches by Pennell, T. L. (Theodore Leighton)
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
And, he might have added, even the lowliest teams believe they have a chance to win.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2025
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
The whole castle, from Lady Stark to the lowliest kitchen scullion, knew he was hostage to his father's good behavior, and treated him accordingly.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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.
