modestly

American

[mod-ist-lee] / ˈmɒd ɪst li /

adverb

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of modestly

modest ( def. ) + -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.

Economists put the probability of recession in the next 12 months at 32%, up modestly from 27% in January.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Because the market has moved modestly lower in the past couple of months as earnings have continued to grow, the multiple today is just 20 times.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

In contrast, real median weekly earnings have risen only modestly during the same period.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 18, 2026

And overall revenue for the sector is likely to grow only modestly by 6% this year, a far cry from the double digit jumps seen in the hyper-growth phase.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

After years of internal resistance, Bertillon converted the Paris police to a new system, which he modestly called the Bertillon system.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023