Definition

1. Adverb:
   • In a manner that is characteristic of or befitting a human being: This describes actions, feelings, or behaviors that are typical of people, often emphasizing compassion, understanding, or physical/mental limitations.
   • Within human capability or power: This refers to what is possible for a person to do, given natural human limits.

Usage and Examples

• Adverb:
  • The nurses treated the patients humanly, with great kindness and respect. (This shows behavior befitting a compassionate human.)
  • We must respond humanly to this crisis, not just as bureaucrats. (This emphasizes acting with human empathy.)
  • The rescue team did everything humanly possible to find the survivors. (This means they did everything within the limits of human ability.)
  • It is not humanly possible to work 24 hours a day without rest. (This states a limit of human capability.)

Advanced Usage

• "humanly possible": This is a common fixed phrase used to emphasize the absolute limits of what a person or people can achieve.
  • The engineers are making every humanly possible effort to fix the problem.
• "humanly speaking": Used to provide a perspective or judgment based on typical human understanding or limits.
  • Humanly speaking, her recovery is a miracle.

Variants and Related Words

• Human (adj): Of, relating to, or characteristic of human beings.
  • Human error caused the accident.
• Humane (adj): Characterized by tenderness, compassion, and sympathy for people and animals.
  • The goal is to find a humane solution to the problem.
• Humanity (n): The human race; the quality of being humane.
  • He appealed to their sense of humanity.

Synonyms

• Compassionately: In a way that shows sympathy and concern for others.
• Reasonably: To a degree that is appropriate or fair; within the bounds of common sense.
• Feasibly: In a way that is possible to do easily or conveniently.

Antonyms

• Inhumanly: In a manner lacking human qualities like compassion; cruelly.
• Mechanically: In a manner resembling a machine; automatically without thought or feeling.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• All that is humanly possible: Everything that can be done by people.
  • The doctor promised to do all that is humanly possible to save the patient.
• Beyond humanly possible: Exceeding what a human can normally do or endure.
  • The athlete's performance seemed beyond humanly possible.

Adverb

1. in the manner of human beings
   • humanly possible