modestly

[mod-ist-lee]

adverb

1. reflecting a moderate or humble estimate of one’s merits, importance, etc.; not boastfully.

   He modestly puts all of his success down to timing.

2. in a way that is free from showy extravagance; not ostentatiously.

   For a billionaire, he lives rather modestly in a home he bought decades ago.

3. in a way that shows regard for decency in behavior, speech, dress, etc..

   When visiting religious sites, avoid offense by dressing modestly: cover your shoulders, torsos, and thighs.

4. within reasonable limits; moderately.

   A modestly priced economy car may be more appropriate for your teenage driver.

Other Word Forms

• hypermodestly adverb
• overmodestly adverb
• pseudomodestly adverb
• quasi-modestly adverb
• supermodestly adverb
• unmodestly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of modestly¹

modest ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

O’Brien lived it up in the final week of his modestly rated show, smoking a blunt with Seth Rogen, messing around with Jack Black and being congratulated by a slew of celebrities wishing him well.

From Salon

Women often dress modestly on public beaches in Syria, but some women do opt for more Western styles of swimwear.

From BBC

The company a couple years ago introduced modestly lower-priced tickets for less in-demand front row seats, but later backed away from the idea.

From Los Angeles Times

The state grew modestly last year, but the boom years are over.

From Los Angeles Times

A modestly sized natural gas field was discovered offshore of Gaza in 2000.

From Salon

Related Words

• humbly 
• plainly www.thesaurus.com
• quietly 
• simply