humbling
Americanadjective
-
causing a person to feel less proud, especially through awe, admiration, or gratitude.
This project has involved some exceptionally talented people and it’s been a humbling experience to work with them.
-
lowering a person’s status, power, dignity, confidence, etc..
The 26:2 vote in favor of their opponents was indeed a humbling defeat.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of humbling
First recorded in 1540–50; humbl(e) ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; humbl(e) ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a humbling parallel, the team was recently relegated from Germany’s top soccer league.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Clarke - who didn't comment after his furious post-match media conference following defeat by Hungary in Stuttgart two summers ago - went one step further by resigning three days after the humbling by Brazil.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
What a strange and humbling thing that the course of human history has been repeatedly upended by this singular pathogen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
"It's a huge honour and incredibly humbling to be named on the King's Birthday Honours list," Scarratt said.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
No doubt he meant for it to be humbling, but Tyrion enjoyed the needlework.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
