Humanly means within the limits of what humans can possibly do. When someone says “I did everything humanly possible,” they mean they tried every option available to a person with normal human abilities and resources. If a task isn't humanly possible, it means no person could accomplish it, no matter how hard they tried.

The word reminds us that humans have real limits. You can't humanly run 200 miles per hour, hold your breath for an hour, or lift a car over your head (without special equipment). A doctor might say they did everything humanly possible to save a patient, meaning they used every treatment and skill available.

Sometimes people use this word when they're being realistic about what they can achieve. If your teacher assigns homework that would take eight hours when you only have two, you might explain that it's not humanly possible to finish it all by tomorrow. The phrase acknowledges that you're not making excuses: you're simply recognizing the actual limits of time, energy, or ability that all humans face.