lowly

1 of 2

adjective

low·​ly ˈlō-lē How to pronounce lowly (audio)
lowlier; lowliest
1
: not lofty or grand : commonplace, ordinary
Paella, once the lowly meal of farmers … has indeed evolved into a very sumptuous one-dish meal …Georgina R. Encanto
It's easy to overlook the lowly alphabet book.Ivan Kreilkamp
2
: low in order of importance, value, or esteem
a lowly task
… the game didn't match even the lowly expectations placed on it.Matthew DeFranks
I'm not talking about the mouthwatering and universally appreciated king or Spanish mackerel but their lowly cousin, the commonly derided Atlantic mackerel …W. Hodding Carter
3
: having or being a low rank in some hierarchy
a lowly private in the army
their lowly ranking in the tournament
often, specifically : of or relating to a low social or economic rank
lowly peasants
"Now there's a highborn name for a lowly lad," the woman said. Avi
4
: low in a scale of evolution or development
Consider the lowly roundworm. By manipulating the genes of a species of nematode, Thomas Johnson of the University of Colorado has already doubled its puny 30-day life span.Richard I. Kirkland Jr.
5
: humble in manner or spirit : free from self-assertive pride
Is it compatible with a self-denying, meek, and lowly heart?The New Englander (New Haven, Connecticut)
lowliness noun
Although the institution had many notable patrons such as Dickens the foundlings were constantly reminded of their lowliness. Ciara Dossett

lowly

2 of 2

adverb

1
: not loudly
Dr. Park began to speak lowly, and in Korean, at Sally and Eunice.Gary Shteyngart
2
: in a humble or meek manner
bowed lowly
3
: in a low position, manner, or degree
lowly rated products
… the great elephant makes us a bow in the best style of elephantine courtesy, bending lowly down his mountain bulk …Nathaniel Hawthorne

Examples of lowly in a Sentence

Adjective He was working as a lowly clerk. He resented his lowly status. Adverb lowly bowing before his king, he accepted his knighthood
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Sweet potatoes, fruit Jello, and roast pork — not turkey — would be served to all the inmates, from the lowliest cutpurse to what amounted to the celebrity wing, and its residents: Alexander Pantages, the millionaire theater magnate convicted of raping a 17-year-old dancer. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023 This investment offered her century-old carmaker the chance to finally be viewed as a disruptive tech company with valuation multiples more akin to buzzy software companies than those of a lowly metal-bender beset by a meddlesome unionized workforce. Bychristiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023 Toe to toe, on land, the hippo towers over its lowly opponent. Paul Richards, Field & Stream, 15 Nov. 2023 Ramey quickly refuted the reports of unidentified material, claiming that his base experts had examined the debris sent from Roswell and easily identified it as belonging not to any foreign or unknown craft, but to a lowly weather balloon instead. WIRED, 14 Nov. 2023 In fact, its lowly standing sits in stark contrast with its role as a centerpiece of global air travel—and even its current financial performance. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2023 Deeming it a religious conspiracy, the Senate issued a formal decree prohibiting the Bacchanalia throughout Italy—all because a lowly freedwoman wanted to protect her lover. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 8 Nov. 2023 Apple iMessage users communicate with feature-rich blue bubbles, while everyone else is relegated to a lowly green. Jon Porter, The Verge, 8 Nov. 2023 Nella’s got both the talent and the drive to be successful at Wagner Books, but life (read: casual workplace aggressions and red tape) has been getting in the way, keeping her stuck in her lowly assistant position. Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 29 Sep. 2023
Adverb
Swap out your regular light bulbs for a lower wattage, install a dimmer or a wall sconce that is intentionally lowly lit. Rachel Silva, ELLE Decor, 21 July 2023 The Giants offense has been pretty lowly lately, but that hasn't stopped San Francisco from rattling off a bunch of wins to remain afloat in the playoff race. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 17 July 2023 In Bihar, that means a government job, no matter how lowly. Hari Kumar Atul Loke, New York Times, 28 June 2023 That being said, there have been a few undrafted -- or lowly drafted -- players who have made an impact in Indy. Dustin Dopirak, The Indianapolis Star, 29 May 2023 Nothing embraces those dramatic changes like the butterfly, shifting from a lowly crawling caterpillar to the colorful winged pollinator that brings beauty and whimsy to the outdoors. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 15 May 2023 Even lowly Colorado attracted 47,277 fans eager to check out Deion Sanders and his new-look Buffs. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 May 2023 The Kenyan shilling has for the longest time been measuring lowly against the US dollar. Faustine Ngila, Quartz, 27 Apr. 2023 The two teams meet at St. James' Park this month, too. SLICK ARSENAL Three goals in a 26-minute burst in the first half saw Arsenal overwhelm Fulham, a week after the leaders needed a dramatic strike in the seventh minute of stoppage time to beat lowly Bournemouth at home. Steve Douglas, ajc, 12 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lowly.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Adverb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of lowly was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near lowly

Cite this Entry

“Lowly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lowly. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

lowly

1 of 2 adverb
low·​ly ˈlō-lē How to pronounce lowly (audio)
1
: in a humble or meek manner
2
: in a low position, manner, or degree
3
: not loudly

lowly

2 of 2 adjective
lowlier; lowliest
1
2
: of low rank or position
lowliness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on lowly

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