meekly
Americanadverb
-
in a humbly patient or quiet manner.
When addressing a lawyer during oral arguments, the judge often starts meekly with, "Counsel, may I interrupt?"
-
in an overly submissive or compliant manner.
Not knowing what we were getting into, we meekly agreed.
Other Word Forms
- overmeekly adverb
Etymology
Origin of meekly
Explanation
Do something in a shy, self-effacing way, and you're doing it meekly. While some students argue with a teacher over a bad grade, others simply accept it meekly. Aggressive dogs growl menacingly at strangers, but submissive dogs bow their heads and meekly wag their tails. If you're very reserved, you might find it hard to speak up for yourself, tending instead to listen meekly to what others say without offering your own opinion. The adverb meekly, along with the related adjective meek, has a Scandinavian root — it's related to the Old Norse mjukr, "soft and pliant."
Vocabulary lists containing meekly
Where You See Yourself
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Max Einstein: The Genius Experiment
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The Sunbearer Trials
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After surrendering meekly in their opening two matches against China and South Korea, few fancied Rebecca Morrison's rink to right the wrongs against the world champions.
From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026
“That’s what the doctor says,” Ray J replied meekly, then seemingly grew frustrated as his friend talked loudly over him and insisted he was going to live long enough to see his children’s children.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2026
The question is whether the party now meekly succumbs to the browbeating:
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026
Makeshift opener Travis Head hit an explosive 69-ball century to power Australia to victory in a high-octane first Ashes Test on Saturday after a shell-shocked England meekly surrendered in the Perth Stadium cauldron.
From Barron's • Nov. 22, 2025
“No, I did. I wanted to amuse him one night when you were all away, and he was rather dismal. He did like it, so don’t scold, Jo,” said Beth meekly.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
