In the title compound, C21H21NO5, the dihedral angle between the quinoline ring system (r.m.s. deviation = 0.028 Å) and the trimethoxybenzene ring is 43.38 (5)°. The C atoms of the methoxy groups deviate from their attached benzene ring by −0.396 (2), −0.049 (2) and 0.192 (2) Å for the ortho-, meta- and para-substituents, respectively. The pendant ethyl chain is disordered over two orientations in a 0.527 (5):0.473 (5) ratio. A short intramolecular C—H⋯O contact closes an S(6) ring. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of weak C—H⋯O interactions generate R
2
2(6) loops. The dimers are linked by further C—H⋯O interactions to generate [1-10] chains.