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.

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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

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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” ( see mode ¹), perhaps from unattested medos, with the vowel of modus; compare moderārī “to moderate” ( see 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

The Duffys are not ordinary Americans piling into a minivan for a modest summer vacation.

From Salon • May 18, 2026

These later American fairs were more modest but still influential.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 16, 2026

Fresh from declaring a "new dawn" beckoned for Wales but unable to get into his Cardiff flat late at night, ap Iorwerth then spent the evening in the budget hotel chain's modest surroundings.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Even a modest number of confirmed discoveries could significantly improve models of stellar explosions and the behavior of matter under extreme conditions.

From Science Daily • May 15, 2026

I make a right turn instead, where the seats are more modest and crowded more tightly, searching for an empty row so I won’t need to sit with a stranger.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

Related Words

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