humble

[ huhm-buhl, uhm- ]

See synonyms for: humble humbled humblest humbling on Thesaurus.com

adjective,hum·bler, hum·blest.

not proud or arrogant; modest: Though very successful, she remained humble.
having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.: In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.

low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly: of humble origin;a humble home.
courteously respectful: In my humble opinion you are wrong.
low in height, level, etc.; small in size: a humble member of the galaxy.

verb (used with object),hum·bled, hum·bling.

to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.
to destroy the independence, power, or will of.

to make meek: to humble one's heart.

Origin of humble

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

synonym study For humble

7. 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.

Other words for humble

1	unpretending, unpretentious
2	deferential, meek
3	unassuming, plain, common, poor
4	polite
6	mortify, shame, abash
7	subdue, crush, break

See synonyms for humble on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for humble

1, 2	proud
3	noble, exalted
4	rude, insolent
6	elevate, exalt

See antonyms for humble on Thesaurus.com

Other words from humble

hum·ble·ness, noun
hum·bler, noun
hum·bly, adverb
o·ver·hum·ble, adjective
qua·si-hum·ble, adjective
un·hum·ble, adjective

Words Nearby humble

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use humble in a sentence

Like people, sometimes you can have an exceptional storm arise from very humble origins.
What’s behind August 2020’s extreme weather? Climate change and bad luck | Carolyn Gramling | August 27, 2020 | Science News
A humble microchip in the early 1960s would have boasted a handful of transistors.
Moore’s Law Lives: Intel Says Chips Will Pack 50 Times More Transistors | Jason Dorrier | August 23, 2020 | Singularity Hub
They’re not the only ones trying to boost the functionality of the humble brick.
Scientists Found a Way to Turn Bricks Into Batteries | Edd Gent | August 17, 2020 | Singularity Hub
These ad units are much less annoying than other video types, but they’re also cost-effective tools that drive upper-funnel and bottom-funnel goals for companies with humble ad budgets.
Hottest user-centric video advertising trends of 2020: CTV, vertical, and social formats | Ivan Guzenko | June 12, 2020 | Search Engine Watch
Despite its humble beginnings, Urban Dictionary has made quite a name for itself and continues to grow, with new entries every day.
‘Urban Dictionary’ Gives a Whole New Meaning to Some Choice Words | Truthbetold | November 12, 2019 | TruthBeTold.news

What matters is being honest, humble, and a faithful and loyal friend, father and member of your community.
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv | Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
They are to face oppression with humble persistence and absolute conviction.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder | Jason McGahan | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Abramoff said that the governor needed to remember to “be humble.”
Abramoff’s Advice for Virginia’s New Jailhouse Guv | Tim Mak, Jackie Kucinich | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
His goal of coming across as humble subtracts from his ability to share just exactly how he became so great at such a young age.
The Story of the World’s Greatest Cricket Player | William O’Connor | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
At first glance, it might be tempting to interpret this extravagant level of compensation as a victory for the once-humble intern.
Silicon Valley Interns Make a Service Worker’s Yearly Salary In Three Months | Samantha Allen | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Sick, trembling, her beautiful face humble and tearful enough now, she bent it on his shoulder in a shower of bitter tears.
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry Wood
This man by hard, manual labor makes only enough to pay for humble shelter and plain food.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen Leacock
He at once bowed himself to the ground in gratitude, and in words of the most humble sort returned his thanks.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. Pike
In my humble opinion the Railway Commissioners have done much useful work and done it well.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph Tatlow
He was a weaver in humble life till his self-acquired attainments attracted patronage.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for humble

humble

/ (ˈhʌmbəl) /

adjective

conscious of one's failings
unpretentious; lowly: a humble cottage; my humble opinion

deferential or servile

verb(tr)

to cause to become humble; humiliate
to lower in status

Origin of humble

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

Derived forms of humble

humbled, adjective
humbleness, noun
humbler, noun
humbling, adjective
humblingly, adverb
humbly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with humble

humble

see eat crow (humble pie).

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