English Reference
Adjective

lowly

adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˈɫoʊɫi/ UK /lˈəʊli/ low·ly

adj.having a low rank or a very simple position in society. It describes someone or something that is not powerful, rich, or important.

adj.occupying a humble or low position in a hierarchy; lacking in status, importance, or rank.


SIMPLE

He started his career as a lowly clerk in the mailroom.

CONTEXTUAL

Even the most lowly tasks in the kitchen are essential for the restaurant to run smoothly.

COMPLEX

The novel explores the life of a lowly stable hand who eventually rises to become a respected advisor to the king through sheer perseverance.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun to emphasize a lack of status.

Pitfall
He spoke lowly to the groupHe spoke quietly to the group

Lowly is an adjective meaning humble; it is not the adverbial form of 'low' used for volume or physical height.

While Chelsea would still need to improve considerably to win the title, they were better than their lowly 10th-place finish last season suggests.

BBC News· 14 Aug 2026

From low + -ly; compare Middle English lowly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated