lowly

1 of 2

adjective

low·​ly ˈlō-lē 

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• low
• humble
• plebeian
• lower-class
• ignoble
• inferior
• proletarian

Adverb

• humbly
• meekly
• abjectly
• cap in hand
• deferentially
• sheepishly

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

His rookie year ended with a rather disappointing negative-yardage effort in a lost to the lowly New York Jets. —C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025

Since arriving in Houston, Udoka has rapidly reshaped the Rockets’ culture and internal expectations, transforming them from a lowly franchise that had won just 22 games to a team with consecutive winning seasons. —Kelly Iko, New York Times, 19 June 2025

Adverb

Last year, 12 of the top 20 ERA leaders were lowly regarded in draft season (meaning after pick 60 but often way down the ADP list or not even drafted at all). —Michael Salfino, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025

One player pits her lowly Sandshrew against the legendary Reshiram. —Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2025

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

Rhymes for lowly

• coaly
• coli
• foley
• folie
• goalie
• holy
• moly
• slowly
• tolly
• wholly
• acholi
• emboli

Kids Definition

lowly

1 of 2 adverb

low·​ly ˈlō-lē 

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

: humble entry 1 sense 1, meek

2

: of low rank or position

lowliness noun