modestly
reflecting a moderate or humble estimate of one’s merits, importance, etc.; not boastfully:He modestly puts all of his success down to timing.
in a way that is free from showy extravagance; not ostentatiously:For a billionaire, he lives rather modestly in a home he bought decades ago.
in a way that shows regard for decency in behavior, speech, dress, etc.:When visiting religious sites, avoid offense by dressing modestly: cover your shoulders, torsos, and thighs.
within reasonable limits; moderately: A modestly priced economy car may be more appropriate for your teenage driver.
Origin of modestly
1Other words from modestly
- hy·per·mod·est·ly, adverb
- o·ver·mod·est·ly, adverb
- pseu·do·mod·est·ly, adverb
- qua·si-mod·est·ly, adverb
- su·per·mod·est·ly, adverb
- un·mod·est·ly, adverb
Words Nearby modestly
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use modestly in a sentence
Jos Hermens, the agent who represents both Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele, told me that Kipchoge got a big boost from the original Vaporflys, while Bekele got a much more modest one.
Seeking the Fastest Shoe in the Post-Vaporfly Era | Alex Hutchinson | November 17, 2020 | Outside OnlineOn the housing production side, we want to make sure that some reasonable and modest improvements on how we are allowing housing production to actually take place are afforded.
Sacramento Report: 5 Questions for San Diego’s New Assemblyman | Voice of San Diego | November 13, 2020 | Voice of San DiegoEven a modest deployment in the next few months could protect millions of people and save tens of thousands.
If we don’t vaccinate the world quickly, all our COVID efforts will be a waste | jakemeth | November 12, 2020 | FortuneThe bank’s bad-loan write-offs, though still modest, are creeping higher.
Mounting commercial real estate losses threaten banks, recovery | David Lynch | November 11, 2020 | Washington PostThe researchers contend that such a strategy can make a huge dent in the infection rate while causing a far more modest drop in the total number of visits to those venues.
These venues are high-risk areas for spreading the coronavirus, model suggests | Ben Guarino, Joel Achenbach | November 10, 2020 | Washington Post
Williamson “talks fluently and modestly about his art,” Barkham wrote.
The Arab women wore their colored hejabs, and the non-Muslim women dressed modestly and without a veil.
Saudi Activist Manal Al-Sharif on Why She Removed the Veil | Manal Al Sharif, Advancing Human Rights | October 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAll of that, and the fact that hardly anyone within the state knows who the hell Bell is, and Booker is only polling modestly.
The Ugly Truth About Cory Booker, New Jersey’s Golden Boy | Olivia Nuzzi | October 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIf I am dressed “modestly,” then they can perhaps generate a modicum of understanding.
Previously, no one thought twice about telling girls to dress modestly in order be taken seriously or to be protected.
We modestly reminded her that we always did go, excepting of course on this particular Sunday.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph TatlowYou thought I smiled modestly and said, "Oh yes, he's my brother, my young brother; isn't he wonderful?"
First Plays | A. A. MilneMore modestly, it is a kind of table of contents, of a unique type; a table of living contents!
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z | Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois ChristopheShe asked her question very modestly, but her cheeks were flushed, and she was evidently indignant.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage | Gertrude W. Morrison"All can not be officers, and I was content to serve my country in the most humble capacity," modestly replied Mark.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. Dunn
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