ENGLISH
REFERENCE

humbly

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhəmbɫi// UK //hˈʌmbli// humbly

adv. to do something in a way that shows you do not think you are more important than others. You use this when you want to show respect or when you are not trying to be proud.

adv. in a manner characterized by a modest or low estimate of one's own importance. Often used to signal deference or respect in formal communication.


SIMPLE

He humbly accepted the award.

CONTEXTUAL

She humbly apologized for the mistake, acknowledging that she still had much to learn from her colleagues.

COMPLEX

The scientist humbly attributed the breakthrough to the decades of foundational research conducted by her predecessors rather than to her own individual genius.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English humbely, humbliche, equivalent to humble + -ly. Displaced Old English ēaþmōdlīċe.

Usage

Typically follows the verb it modifies or sits at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.

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