humble

[huhm-buhl, uhm-]

adjective

humbler, humblest 

1. not proud or arrogant; modest.

   Though very successful, she remained humble.

   Synonyms: unpretentious
   Antonyms: proud

2. having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc..

   In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.

   Synonyms: meek, deferential
   Antonyms: proud

3. low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly.

   of humble origin;

   a humble home.

   Synonyms: poor, common, plain, unassuming
   Antonyms: exalted, noble

4. courteously respectful.

   In my humble opinion you are wrong.

   Synonyms: polite
   Antonyms: insolent, rude

5. low in height, level, etc.; small in size.

   a humble member of the galaxy.

verb (used with object)

humbled, humbling 

1. to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.

   Synonyms: abash, shame, mortify
   Antonyms: exalt, elevate

2. to destroy the independence, power, or will of.

   Synonyms: break, crush, subdue

3. to make meek.

   to humble one's heart.

humble

/ ˈhʌmbəl /

adjective

1. conscious of one's failings

2. unpretentious; lowly

   a humble cottage

   my humble opinion

3. deferential or servile

verb

1. to cause to become humble; humiliate

2. to lower in status

Other Word Forms

• humbleness noun
• humbler noun
• humbly adverb
• overhumble adjective
• quasi-humble adjective
• unhumble adjective
• humbling adjective
• humbled adjective
• humblingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of humble¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English (h)umble, from Old French, from Latin humilis “lowly, insignificant, on the ground”; humus, -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of humble¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin humilis low, from humus the ground

Idioms and Phrases

see eat crow (humble pie).

Synonym Study

Humble, degrade, humiliate suggest lowering or causing to seem lower. To humble is to bring down the pride of another or to reduce them to a state of abasement: to humble an arrogant enemy. To degrade is to demote in rank or standing, or to reduce to a low level in dignity: to degrade an officer; to degrade oneself by lying. To humiliate is to make others feel or appear inadequate or unworthy, especially in some public setting: to humiliate a sensitive person.

Example Sentences

“We need to stay humble, keep working, keep climbing the ladder and getting better every week and proving we can play against some of the better teams we previously couldn’t do.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Nothing is a straight line, ever and sport is so humbling.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Tongan brothers are sophisticated, belligerent and accustomed to privilege; Kōrero’s people are humble, pacifist and poor.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Americans are lining up as top chefs around the country raise the game of the humble slice shop.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We must hope that their humbling by Israel may bring an opportunity for a reset. That requires a change in the mentality of Tehran not yet detected in intelligence.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• courteous 
• gentle 
• modest 
• ordinary 
• polite 
• quiet 
• respectful 
• self-effacing 
• sheepish 
• shy 
• simple 
• soft-spoken 
• tentative 
• timid 
• unpretentious