humble
- 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.
- 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
Synonyms for humble
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Antonyms for humble
Related Words for humblest
timid, sheepish, respectful, tentative, simple, self-effacing, soft-spoken, polite, quiet, gentle, modest, shy, unpretentious, courteous, ordinary, obscure, unassuming, reserved, retiring, blushingExamples from the Web for humblest
Contemporary Examples of humblest
She was born into the humblest of Birmingham neighborhoods, to a mother who had been a butcher and a TV-salesman dad.
Historical Examples of humblest
A man likes to have the approval of even the humblest of his fellow-creatures.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
They would take off their hats, and make the humblest bows you ever saw.
The Miraculous PitcherNathaniel Hawthorne
The humblest may see a way of improvement in their betters, and obey the command, "Follow me."
Albert DurerT. Sturge Moore
Occasionally, the brave and gentle character may be found under the humblest garb.
Self-HelpSamuel Smiles
Only he had set her on high, where even the humblest woman longs to be set by some one.
A Spirit in PrisonRobert Hichens
humble
- conscious of one's failings
- unpretentious; lowlya humble cottage; my humble opinion
- deferential or servile
- to cause to become humble; humiliate
- to lower in status
Word Origin for humble
Word Origin and History for humblest
humble
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).
humble
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.
Idioms and Phrases with humblest
humble
see eat crow (humble pie).