modestly

[mod-ist-lee]

adverb

1. reflecting a moderate or humble estimate of one’s merits, importance, etc.; not boastfully.

   He modestly puts all of his success down to timing.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. within reasonable limits; moderately.

   A modestly priced economy car may be more appropriate for your teenage driver.

Other Word Forms

• hypermodestly adverb
• overmodestly adverb
• pseudomodestly adverb
• quasi-modestly adverb
• supermodestly adverb
• unmodestly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of modestly¹

modest ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Dallas Fed President Logan said modestly restrictive settings are appropriate unless there’s convincing evidence of inflation coming down faster or a more than gradual cooling in the labor market, the senior economist notes.

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Hetts thinks the bull market has legs, the U.S. economy will keep modestly growing in 2026, and that inflation will remain sticky but without a “runaway spike.”

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During Friday’s session, the S&P 500 briefly turned higher before ending modestly lower, while bitcoin and gold prices declined for the session.

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The S&P 500 was rising modestly in early-afternoon trading Friday, after its sharp fall Thursday left it on pace for a November loss.

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Some have paused hiring amid economic uncertainty, some have laid off staff in the name of efficiency and some are growing modestly.

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Related Words

• humbly 
• plainly www.thesaurus.com
• quietly 
• simply