lowly
/ˈləʊli/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈləʊli/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlō-lē/ (ame, mw)
lowly — adjective
- lowlypositive
- lowliercomparative
- lowliestsuperlative
1. near the bottom of a social or job ranking, so other people treat you as not ver
near the bottom of a social or job ranking, so other people treat you as not very important.
Mei started as a lowly kitchen helper before she opened her own bakery.
a lowly + job noun for someone at the bottom of a workplace
The factory owner barely spoke to the lowly workers on the night shift.
Even Eve, a lowly office clerk, could see the monthly numbers did not add up.
Christopher rose from a lowly farmhand to manager of three large farms.
Brian was a lowly soldier who could never question the strict captain's orders.
- high-ranking
near the top of an organisation
- exalted
formal; held in very high honour
文法句型
a lowly + noun
be lowly
用法筆記
Almost always placed before a noun naming a job, rank, or role (a lowly clerk, a lowly soldier). Often paired with 'even' or a 'rose from … to …' frame to stress how far below others the person sits.
常見錯誤
lowly — adverb
1. in a modest, gentle way that puts yourself below other people rather than acting
in a modest, gentle way that puts yourself below other people rather than acting proud.
Antonia bowed lowly before the old queen and waited to be told to rise.
verb of respect + lowly to show a humble gesture
The young monk spoke lowly of his own work and praised his teachers instead.
speak lowly of oneself for modest self-description
Samir knelt lowly at the church door and thanked the strangers who had fed him.
Yael carried herself lowly among the villagers, never boasting about her riches.
- proudly
showing confidence or self-importance
文法句型
verb + lowly
用法筆記
Distinguish from adverb sense 2 (physical position) and sense 3 (quiet volume): this sense is about a humble attitude, so it pairs with verbs of behaviour like 'bow', 'speak', or 'carry oneself'. Rare and literary in modern English; 'humbly' is the everyday choice.
常見錯誤
2. close to the ground, or at a small height, level, or amount.
close to the ground, or at a small height, level, or amount.
The heavy grey clouds hung lowly over the harbour all morning.
hang lowly for something close to the ground
Zola set the lantern lowly on the floor so the sleeping baby would not wake.
The old apple branches drooped lowly until they almost touched the wet grass.
Smoke from the campfire drifted lowly across the dark valley floor.
文法句型
verb + lowly
用法筆記
Only sense that describes physical height or level rather than attitude (sense 1) or volume (sense 3); it answers 'how close to the ground?'. Very rare today — modern English prefers the adverb 'low' (the clouds hung low).
常見錯誤
3. in a soft, quiet voice or sound that is hard to hear from far away.
in a soft, quiet voice or sound that is hard to hear from far away.
Élise sang lowly to the baby until his eyes finally closed.
sing lowly for a soft, quiet voice
The two farmers spoke lowly so the sleeping dogs would not stir.
speak lowly to keep a sound quiet and hidden
Karim hummed lowly as he packed the last boxes into the moving van.
The wind moaned lowly through the broken windows of the empty house.
- loudly
with a lot of sound, easy to hear
文法句型
verb + lowly
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (humble attitude) and sense 2 (physical height): this sense answers 'how loud?', so it pairs with sound verbs like 'sing', 'speak', or 'hum'. Rare and poetic; modern English says 'softly' or 'quietly'.