lowly
gb/lˈoʊli/ us/lˈoʊli/
B2
英语
~ 8500
义项
0 个义项
adjective
B2
property
1
of low rank or status
Having a job or position that is not important or powerful in a group or company.
用法模式：
a lowly [position/role/worker]
常见错误：
Learners sometimes confuse "lowly" with "low" when talking about physical height (e.g., *a lowly table*). "Lowly" is about rank or importance, not physical height. Use "low" for physical position and "lowly" for status or importance.
近义词
junior (Focuses on lower level in an organization, often more neutral and common in business contexts.)
|
low-ranking (More explicit and often used in formal or official descriptions of hierarchy.)
反义词
senior (Indicates a higher-level or more powerful position in a group or organization.)
|
high-ranking (Direct opposite, emphasizing an important or powerful place in a hierarchy.)
搭配
lowly position
|lowly worker
|lowly employee
|lowly clerk
|lowly role
|lowly rank
主题
society
|work
|politics
|business
|core_vocabulary
例句
- She started in a lowly position at the company and worked her way up to director.
- The decision was not made by a lowly employee but by the CEO himself.
- In the army he was just a lowly private with no authority.
- Many successful politicians began their careers in lowly local offices.
- The interns felt like lowly helpers compared with the permanent staff.
学习者例句
- He has a lowly job in the office.
- She was a lowly worker when she was young.
- The lowly clerk did not make big decisions.
- He moved from a lowly position to a high one.
- At first, I took a lowly role in the company.
adjective
B2
property
2
simple, ordinary, not important
Simple and not important or special, often used in a slightly humorous way.
用法模式：
the lowly [object/role/task]
常见错误：
Learners may think "lowly" is always very negative. In modern English, it often has a slightly humorous or affectionate tone when talking about simple things, not strong disrespect.
近义词
humble (Very close in meaning; can sound warmer or more appreciative, especially about simple things.)
|
unimportant (More direct and possibly harsher, without the slightly playful or affectionate tone that "lowly" can have.)
反义词
important (Describes something that matters a lot or has high value, the opposite of a lowly or simple thing.)
|
prestigious (Stresses high respect and admiration, in contrast with something seen as lowly or ordinary.)
搭配
the lowly potato
|lowly task
|lowly role
|lowly function
|lowly creature
|lowly job
主题
daily_life
|work
|culture
|core_vocabulary
例句
- The lowly potato has fed people around the world for centuries.
- In this company, even the lowly receptionist is treated with respect.
- He proudly talked about his work, even though others saw it as a lowly job.
- Do not underestimate the lowly screw that holds the whole machine together.
- The dish turns the lowly carrot into something elegant and delicious.
学习者例句
- They use the lowly potato in many dishes.
- He does a lowly job, but he does it well.
- People think cleaning is a lowly task, but it is important.
- The story is about a lowly worker who becomes a hero.
- Many great meals start with the lowly onion.
adjective
literary
C1
property
3
humble and not proud
Feeling or acting very humble, not seeing yourself as important.
用法模式：
[someone] has a lowly attitude
常见错误：
Learners may try to use "lowly" for "sad" or "weak". It actually refers to being humble or not proud, especially in religious or literary writing.
近义词
humble (The most common modern word; used in everyday and religious contexts for not being proud.)
|
modest (Focuses on not bragging about success; less religious or old-fashioned than "lowly.")
反义词
proud (Shows a high opinion of oneself, opposite of a lowly or humble attitude.)
|
arrogant (Stronger negative opposite, suggesting someone thinks they are much better than others.)
搭配
lowly heart
|lowly spirit
|lowly attitude
|lowly servant
|meek and lowly
主题
character
|religion
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
例句
- The leader was known for his lowly spirit and gentle manner.
- In the prayer, she described herself as a lowly servant before God.
- Despite his fame, he kept a lowly attitude and treated everyone kindly.
- The text praises those who are meek and lowly in heart.
- She spoke in a lowly way, never drawing attention to herself.
学习者例句
- He is rich, but his heart is lowly.
- She prays to God with a lowly spirit.
- The king acts lowly with his people.
- They respect him because he stays lowly.
- The story says that the lowly will be lifted up.
adverb
archaic
C2
property
4
in a quiet, low voice
Speaking or sounding quietly, not loudly.
用法模式：
to speak lowly
常见错误：
Learners may think "lowly" is the normal adverb form of "low" for sound. In modern English, people almost always say "speak softly" or "speak in a low voice"; "speak lowly" sounds old-fashioned or incorrect today.
近义词
softly (Common modern adverb for speaking in a quiet voice; more natural than "lowly" today.)
反义词
loudly (Describes speaking with a lot of sound, opposite of speaking lowly or quietly.)
搭配
speak lowly
|say lowly
|answer lowly
主题
communication
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
例句
- He spoke lowly so that only she could hear.
- She answered lowly, afraid to disturb the silence.
- The children sang lowly as they walked through the dark hall.
- He knocked and called lowly at the door.
- The old man laughed lowly in the corner.
学习者例句
- He speaks lowly in the library.
- She answers lowly when she is shy.
- The man talks lowly to his baby.
- They sing lowly late at night.
- Please speak lowly; the baby is sleeping.
语法
词典原形
lowly
IPA
GB/lˈoʊli/
US/lˈoʊli/
音节与重音
lowly （1 个音节）
Stress on 1st syllable (lowly)
词形变化
Adjective
- Base: lowly
- Comparative: lowlier
- Superlative: lowliest
词族
相关表达
from lowly beginnings
1/fɹˈʌm lˈoʊli bɪɡˈɪnɪŋz/
fixed phrase
starting from a low position
Used to say that a person or thing started with very little power, money, or importance and later became successful or important.
例句
- The company grew from lowly beginnings in a small garage to a global brand.
- Many leaders have risen from lowly beginnings to positions of great power.
- Her story of coming from lowly beginnings inspires young entrepreneurs.
of lowly birth
1/əv lˈoʊli bˈɚθ/
fixed phrase
literary
born into low social class
Used to describe someone who was born into a poor or low social class family.
例句
- Though of lowly birth, he married into a noble family.
- The novel follows a hero of lowly birth who changes the kingdom's future.
- She was reminded often that she was of lowly birth and should know her place.