modest

American  

[mod-ist] / ˈmɒd ɪst /

adjective

1. having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one's merits, importance, etc.; free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions.

   Synonyms:

   unobtrusive, unpretentious, unassuming, retiring

2. free from ostentation or showy extravagance.

   a modest house.

   Synonyms:

   unobtrusive, unpretentious

3. having or showing regard for the decencies of behavior, speech, dress, etc.; decent.

   a modest neckline on a dress.

   Synonyms:

   virtuous, pure

   Antonyms:

   coarse, bold

4. limited or moderate in amount, extent, etc..

   a modest increase in salary.

---

modest British  

/ ˈmɒdɪst /

adjective

1. having or expressing a humble opinion of oneself or one's accomplishments or abilities

2. reserved or shy

   modest behaviour

3. not ostentatious or pretentious

4. not extreme or excessive; moderate

5. decorous or decent

---

Synonym Usage

Modest, demure, prudish imply conformity to propriety and decorum, and a distaste for anything coarse or loud. Modest implies a becoming shyness, sobriety, and proper behavior: a modest, self-respecting person. Demure implies a bashful, quiet simplicity, staidness, and decorum; but can also indicate an assumed or affected modesty: a demure young chorus girl. Prudish suggests an exaggeratedly self-conscious modesty or propriety in behavior or conversation of one who wishes to be thought of as easily shocked and who often is intolerant: a prudish objection to a harmless remark.

Other Word Forms

• hypermodestness
  noun
• hypermodest
  adjective
• overmodest
  adjective
• pseudomodest
  adjective
• quasi-modest
  adjective
• supermodest
  adjective
• unmodest
  adjective
• modestly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of modest

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin modestus “restrained, decorous,” equivalent to modes- (stem of unattested modus, an s- stem akin to modus “measured amount, limit, manner” ( see mode ¹), perhaps from unattested medos, with the vowel of modus; compare moderārī “to moderate” ( see moderate, from the same noun stem) + -tus adjective suffix

Explanation

A person is modest if he or she is very successful but does not call attention to this. Modest generally means "big enough but not huge" — like a modest house or a modest income. An ambitious person will not be satisfied with modest progress. Around the turn of the 17th century, modest referred to proper or decent dress and behavior especially in women. Although this is considered dated today, modest is still used for people who are shy about showing their body. If you are modest, you might wear your t-shirt when you swim.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

modest

A modest shift in consumer behavior hardened into a cultural stereotype.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026

For clubs accustomed to paying tens of millions for established first-team players, spreading comparatively modest sums across several promising teenagers offers obvious appeal.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

After laying their family members to rest, the brothers went to live with their father in a modest, work-class neighbourhood of low-rise houses in the north-eastern outskirts of Cali, Colombia.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

For months, “it was difficult to speak, and the radiating pain was so intense that even modest movement—from laughing to getting dressed to turning on the shower—was wrenching,” she wrote.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

“Melissa has a young daughter, and they live in a modest home. We want to intrude as little as possible.”

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

Related Words

• humble
• moderate
• prudent
• quiet
• simple
• unassuming