modest

American  

[mod-ist] / ˈmɒd ɪst /

adjective

1. having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one's merits, importance, etc.; free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions.

   Synonyms:

   unobtrusive, unpretentious, unassuming, retiring

2. free from ostentation or showy extravagance.

   a modest house.

   Synonyms:

   unobtrusive, unpretentious

3. having or showing regard for the decencies of behavior, speech, dress, etc.; decent.

   a modest neckline on a dress.

   Synonyms:

   virtuous, pure

   Antonyms:

   coarse, bold

4. limited or moderate in amount, extent, etc..

   a modest increase in salary.

---

modest British  

/ ˈmɒdɪst /

adjective

1. having or expressing a humble opinion of oneself or one's accomplishments or abilities

2. reserved or shy

   modest behaviour

3. not ostentatious or pretentious

4. not extreme or excessive; moderate

5. decorous or decent

---

Related Words

Modest, demure, prudish imply conformity to propriety and decorum, and a distaste for anything coarse or loud. Modest implies a becoming shyness, sobriety, and proper behavior: a modest, self-respecting person. Demure implies a bashful, quiet simplicity, staidness, and decorum; but can also indicate an assumed or affected modesty: a demure young chorus girl. Prudish suggests an exaggeratedly self-conscious modesty or propriety in behavior or conversation of one who wishes to be thought of as easily shocked and who often is intolerant: a prudish objection to a harmless remark.

Other Word Forms

• hypermodest adjective
• hypermodestness noun
• modestly adverb
• overmodest adjective
• pseudomodest adjective
• quasi-modest adjective
• supermodest adjective
• unmodest adjective

Etymology

Origin of modest

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin modestus “restrained, decorous,” equivalent to modes- (stem of unattested modus, an s- stem akin to modus “measured amount, limit, manner” ( mode ¹ ), perhaps from unattested medos, with the vowel of modus; compare moderārī “to moderate” ( moderate, from the same noun stem) + -tus adjective suffix

Explanation

A person is modest if he or she is very successful but does not call attention to this. Modest generally means "big enough but not huge" — like a modest house or a modest income. An ambitious person will not be satisfied with modest progress. Around the turn of the 17th century, modest referred to proper or decent dress and behavior especially in women. Although this is considered dated today, modest is still used for people who are shy about showing their body. If you are modest, you might wear your t-shirt when you swim.

Example Sentences

There was a sweet irony watching them close the set with “Intro,” a modest instrumental jam from their debut that has, through well-paying commercial placements, become their calling card to mainstream pop.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

The modest job growth in March recovered only a small portion of the nearly 109,000 jobs lost in the first two months of 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

But in real patients, the results have been far less impressive, with modest benefits, notable side effects, and no reliable way to predict who might respond.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies saw modest declines early Thursday as investors monitored a fragile U.S.-Iran truce.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

Souilly was barely a hamlet surrounded by farmland, a cluster of small cottages spoking out like a wheel from a modest stone town hall.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

• humble
• moderate
• prudent
• quiet
• simple
• unassuming