humble
[huhm-buhl, uhm-]
- not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.
- 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.
Show More
- to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.
- to destroy the independence, power, or will of.
- to make meek: to humble one's heart.
Show More
Origin of humble
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com1. unpretending, unpretentious. 2. submissive, meek. 3. unassuming, plain, common, poor. 4. polite. 6. mortify, shame, abash. 7. subdue, crush, break.
Synonym study
7. Humble, degrade, humiliate suggest lowering or causing to seem lower. To humble is to bring down the pride of another or to reduce him or her 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.
Antonyms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
diffidencedemurenesschastityreticencequietnesshumilitydelicacyinnocenceconstraintproprietyinhibitionlowlinesspuritydecencymeeknesscelibacycoynessreservediscreetnesspruderyExamples from the Web for humbleness
Contemporary Examples
I was immediately drawn in by his lack of pretense and humbleness.
Historical Examples
In all humbleness and awe, you are a dweller of the Silent Places.
The ForestStewart Edward White
Ay, justice and mercy and humbleness—not paternosters and penances.
Dreamers of the GhettoI. Zangwill
A word from her, and the men before him dropped in humbleness to the ground.
They are docile, cleanly, quick-witted, and respectful to humbleness.
So far as humbleness was concerned, there was no lack of that.
The Cold SnapEdward Bellamy
humble
- conscious of one's failings
- unpretentious; lowlya humble cottage; my humble opinion
- deferential or servile
Show More
- to cause to become humble; humiliate
- to lower in status
Show More
Word Origin
C13: from Old French, from Latin humilis low, from humus the ground
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
Word Origin and History for humbleness
humble
adj.
mid-13c., from Old French humble, earlier humele, from Latin humilis "lowly, humble," literally "on the ground," from humus "earth." Senses of "not self-asserting" and "of low birth or rank" were both in Middle English Related: Humbly; humbleness.
Don't be so humble; you're not that great. [Golda Meir]
To eat humble pie (1830) is from umble pie (1640s), pie made from umbles "edible inner parts of an animal" (especially deer), considered a low-class food. The similar sense of similar-sounding words (the "h" of humble was not pronounced then) converged in the pun. Umbles, meanwhile, is Middle English numbles "offal" (with loss of n- through assimilation into preceding article).
Show More
humble
v.
late 14c. in the intransitive sense of "to render oneself humble;" late 15c. in the transitive sense of "to lower (someone) in dignity;" see humble (adj.). Related: Humbled; humbling.
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with humbleness
humble
see eat crow (humble pie).
Show More
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.