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

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

Petro said the boat in fact belonged to a “humble family.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But Cate Blanchett has taken an unexpected diversion from her day job - to immerse herself in the world of the humble seed.

Read more on BBC

"We need to stay humble and stay working. When things get tough, it is important we keep the mentality of being there for each other. It is a long season."

Read more on BBC

It is designed at its most fundamental level to humble and to abase—to constantly remind even its greatest practitioners that this game is ultimately an exercise in failure.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

From high-end experimental boutique cafes to the humble sidewalk cart, millions of cups of java are sold every day.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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