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Synonyms

lowly

American  
[loh-lee] / ˈloʊ li /

adjective

lowlier, lowliest

  1. humble in station, condition, or nature.

    a lowly cottage.

  2. low in growth or position.

  3. humble in attitude, behavior, or spirit; meek.

    Synonyms:
    unpretentious , simple , modest

adverb

  1. in a low position, manner, or degree.

    a lowly placed shelf.

  2. in a lowly manner; humbly.

  3. in a quiet voice; softly.

    to converse lowly.
lowly British  
/ ˈləʊlɪ /

adjective

  1. humble or low in position, rank, status, etc

  2. full of humility; meek

  3. simple, unpretentious, or plain

"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

adverb

  1. in a low or lowly 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

Other Word Forms

  • lowlily adverb
  • lowliness noun
  • unlowly adjective

Etymology

Origin of lowly

A Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; low 1, -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.

“Make it staff,” Faas said—meaning a member of AP, not a lowly stringer.

From The Wall Street Journal

She poses as a mentor to Tess, but she’s not about to let some lowly secretary keep her from coming out on top in a man’s world.

From Los Angeles Times

They have restricted the Lions and Packers to a combined 16 points in the last two games, so even the lowly 26 that Hurts and company have mustered have been enough.

From BBC

The Buffalo Bills sit at 6-3 after looking out of sorts in a blowout loss to the lowly Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

From The Wall Street Journal

Beaten 3-1 at lowly West Ham last weekend, Newcastle are languishing in 14th place and have failed to win an away league match in nine attempts since April.

From Barron's

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.