humble

[huhm-buhl, uhm-]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR humble ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, hum·bler, hum·blest.

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.

verb (used with object), hum·bled, hum·bling.

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

1200–50; Middle English (h)umble < Old French < Latin humilis lowly, insignificant, on the ground. See humus, -ile

Related formshum·ble·ness, nounhum·bler, nounhum·bling·ly, adverbhum·bly, adverbo·ver·hum·ble, adjectiveo·ver·hum·ble·ness, nouno·ver·hum·b·ly, adverbqua·si-hum·ble, adjectivequa·si-hum·b·ly, adverbself-hum·bling, adjectiveun·hum·ble, adjectiveun·hum·ble·ness, nounun·hum·b·ly, adverbun·hum·bled, adjective

Synonyms for humble

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR humble ON THESAURUS.COM

1. 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 for humble

1, 2. proud. 3. noble, exalted. 4. rude, insolent. 6. elevate. 8. exalt.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for humbly

apologetically, meanly, obscurely, poorly, simply, abjectly, submissively

Examples from the Web for humbly

Contemporary Examples of humbly

And much of it, unlike Pappy, is right there on the shelf, humbly, quietly waiting to be tried.
The Cult of Pappy van Winkle
Eric Felten
December 3, 2014
In his Twitter handle Spencer now humbly refers to himself as an “international thought criminal.”
A Racist’s Crazy Ski Resort Smackdown
James Kirchick
October 18, 2014
To any other journalists interested in following up on our mission, I humbly offer one piece of advice.
My Search for the Taliban Five
Josh Rogin
June 15, 2014
He has insisted on living as simply and humbly as a pope can.
Pope Francis Has Done Penance for His Lapse of Courage in Argentina
Michael Daly
March 19, 2013
But I humbly suggest that there are some matters on which there should not a statute of limitations.
Michael Tomasky: Time for Ron Paul to Fully Answer Racism Charges
Michael Tomasky
December 23, 2011

Historical Examples of humbly

He must go and humbly he must ask for the loan of a small sum of money.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
I humbly apprehend, that Mr. Solmes has the spirit of a man, and a gentleman.
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
In this dedication of a Nation we humbly ask the blessing of God.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
"Ach, no," said he humbly; for he could not look upon my face and hold his anger.
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark
But, Sir, from your pen let me have an answer; I humbly implore it of you.
Clarissa, Volume 2 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson

British Dictionary definitions for humbly

humble

adjective

conscious of one's failings

unpretentious; lowlya humble cottage; my humble opinion

deferential or servile

verb (tr)

to cause to become humble; humiliate

to lower in status

Derived Formshumbled, adjectivehumbleness, nounhumbler, nounhumbling, adjectivehumblingly, adverbhumbly, adverb

Word Origin for humble

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 humbly

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).

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 humbly

humble

see eat crow (humble pie).