humbly

/ˈhʌmbli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhʌmbli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhəmblē -li also ˈəm-/ (ame, mw)

humbly — adverb

1. speaking, acting, or behaving as someone who does not consider themselves better

1.副詞B2
釋義

speaking, acting, or behaving as someone who does not consider themselves better, more important, or more talented than the people around them.

例句

Ilan humbly accepted the award and thanked his teammates first.

humbly + accept (modifying verb of receiving)

After the goal, Diya humbly waved to the crowd and pointed at her coach.

同義詞
  • modestly

    very close in meaning; slightly more about avoiding boasting than about lowering oneself.

  • meekly

    adds a sense of softness or being easily led — not always positive.

  • respectfully

    focuses on showing respect to the other person, not on lowering oneself.

反義詞
  • proudly

    shows pleasure in one's own achievement rather than playing it down.

  • arrogantly

    shows a belief that one is better than others.

文法句型

humbly + verb

humbly + adjective participle

用法筆記

Most often modifies verbs of receiving (accept, take), saying (admit, ask, apologise), or quiet physical gestures (bow, nod). 'humbly ask / humbly request' is a fixed polite formula common in letters and speeches.

常見錯誤

❌She is humbly.
✅She is humble.
💡'humbly' is the adverb form; use the adjective 'humble' after the verb 'be'.
❌He humbly the trophy.
✅He humbly accepted the trophy.
💡'humbly' modifies a verb, so a verb must follow.

2. in a way that involves having little money, social standing, or family importanc

2.副詞C1
釋義

in a way that involves having little money, social standing, or family importance — for example, being born into a poor family, or living a quiet life with few possessions.

例句

Born humbly in a small fishing village, Ignacio became one of the country's top engineers.

fixed pattern: be born humbly in [place]

The Mendes family had always lived humbly, growing most of their own food.

live humbly — quiet, modest lifestyle

同義詞
  • modestly

    interchangeable here ('live modestly'); slightly less suggestive of poverty.

  • simply

    focuses on lack of luxury rather than low social position.

反義詞
  • lavishly

    with a lot of money spent on luxury and display.

  • grandly

    in an impressive, high-status way.

文法句型

be born humbly

live humbly

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 describes social or material conditions (birth, lifestyle, possessions), not behaviour or attitude. Often appears in biographical writing about people who rose from poor backgrounds.

常見錯誤

❌She thinks humbly about her work.' (meaning she lives simply)
✅She lives humbly.
💡'think humbly' belongs to sense 1 (attitude); for lifestyle, use 'live humbly'.