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

Nina Bilbey, design lead for the monument, told the BBC it was "humbling" to be involved in such an emotive project.

Read more on BBC

Madrid's victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games and Alonso's side proved against Barca they can triumph on the big occasion, following their derby humbling by Atletico Madrid in September.

Read more on Barron's

Its guest star appearance on “The Bear” also beefed up sales, championing the elevation of humble foods that gourmands once wrote off as tacky.

Read more on Salon

"Stand-up takes a lot of work and before the Fringe and my tour, there were so many pubs and awful gigs where I did a 20-minute set to zero laughs. It's certainly humbling."

Read more on BBC

Labour, so long the victor of so many a south Wales political contest, humbled, pummelled, crushed - attracting just 11% of voters.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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