adj Uncommon

lowly

LOH-lee

Lowly (adj) means Low in rank, importance, or status; humble. Example: “He started his career in a lowly clerical job before rising to CEO.”

adj

Low in rank, importance, or status; humble.

"He started his career in a lowly clerical job before rising to CEO."

"The prince disguised himself as a lowly servant."

adv

In a humble or modest manner.

"She spoke lowly of her own achievements, though she had done remarkable work."

How to use lowly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes something or someone of humble, modest, or low rank/status.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "lonely" — they look similar but mean completely different things.

Easily confused with

lonely →

Common pairings

a lowly position lowly origins lowly worker

Word forms

lowlier comparative, more lowly comparative, lowliest superlative, most lowly superlative

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He started his career in a _____ clerical job before rising to CEO.

Etymology

From "low" plus the adjective/adverb suffix "-ly."

Rhymes for lowly

slowly narrowly

See all rhymes for lowly →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lowly” mean?

The word “lowly” means low in rank, importance, or status; humble. In plain terms, describes something or someone of humble, modest, or low rank/status.

How do you pronounce “lowly”?

“Lowly” is pronounced LOH-lee (/ˈloʊli/ in IPA).

How do you use “lowly” in a sentence?

Here is “lowly” used in a sentence: “He started his career in a lowly clerical job before rising to CEO.”

What part of speech is “lowly”?

Depending on how it is used, “lowly” can be an adjective and an adverb.

Is “lowly” a common word?

“Lowly” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “lowly” have?

“Lowly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: low in rank, importance, or status; humble.