noble

[ noh-buhl ]

See synonyms for: noble nobler noblest nobleness on Thesaurus.com

adjective,no·bler, no·blest.

distinguished by rank or title.
pertaining to persons so distinguished.

of, belonging to, or constituting a hereditary class that has special social or political status in a country or state; of or pertaining to the aristocracy.
of an exalted moral or mental character or excellence: a noble thought.
admirable in dignity of conception, manner of expression, execution, or composition: a noble poem.
very impressive or imposing in appearance: a noble monument.
of an admirably high quality; notably superior; excellent
famous; illustrious; renowned.
Chemistry. inert; chemically inactive.
Falconry. (of a hawk) having excellent qualities or abilities.

noun

a person of noble birth or rank; nobleman or noblewoman.
a former gold coin of England, first issued in 1346 by Edward III, equal to half a mark or 6s. 8d., replaced in 1464 under Edward IV by the rose noble.

(in Britain) a peer.

Origin of noble

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin (g)nōbilis “notable, of high rank,” equivalent to (g)nō-, root of (g)nōscere “to get to know, find out” + -bilis adjective suffix; see origin at know¹,-ble

synonym study For noble

4. Noble, high-minded, magnanimous agree in referring to lofty principles and loftiness of mind or spirit. Noble implies a loftiness of character or spirit that scorns the petty, mean, base, or dishonorable: a noble deed. High-minded implies having elevated principles and consistently adhering to them: a high-minded pursuit of legal reforms. Magnanimous suggests greatness of mind or soul, especially as manifested in generosity or in overlooking injuries: magnanimous toward his former enemies.

Other words for noble

3	highborn, aristocratic; patrician, blue-blooded
4	lofty, elevated, high-minded, principled; magnanimous; honorable, estimable, worthy, meritorious
5	grand, dignified, august
6	majestic, grand, stately; magnificent, imposing, splendid, impressive; regal, imperial, lordly
7	noteworthy, notable, outstanding, exemplary, exceptional
8	famed, celebrated, acclaimed, distinguished
11	peer; aristocrat, blue blood, patrician

See synonyms for noble on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for noble

3	baseborn, lowborn; common, plebian; lower-class, working-class, middle-class, bourgeois
4	ignoble, base; vulgar, common
5	undignified, disreputable, unrespected
6	insignificant, mean, paltry; modest, plain, ordinary
7	inferior, ordinary, unexceptional
8	unknown, obscure, remarkable
11	commoner, serf, peasant

See antonyms for noble on Thesaurus.com

Other words from noble

no·ble·ness, noun
non·no·ble, adjective
o·ver·no·ble, adjective
o·ver·no·ble·ness, noun
o·ver·no·b·ly, adverb
pseu·do·no·ble, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use noble in a sentence

Why would you assume that if there are fewer Barnes & Nobles, there will suddenly be more people dashing to BN.com?
Why Is Barnes and Noble Getting Out of the Bookstore Business? | Megan McArdle | February 6, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
The nobles thereof shall not be there: they shall call rather upon the king, and all the princes thereof shall be nothing.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various
But the Earls of Mar and Athol are collecting their forces, and some other nobles of the land are drawing to their party.'
King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
By me kings reign and princes decree justice: by me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham
She thinks of politics, and of the tyranny of kings and nobles, and of the unjust inequalities of man.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. Abbott

The army of emigrant nobles at Coblentz, within the dominions of the King of Prussia, was rapidly increasing in numbers.
Madame Roland, Makers of History | John S. C. Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for noble

noble

/ (ˈnəʊbəl) /

adjective

of or relating to a hereditary class with special social or political status, often derived from a feudal period
of or characterized by high moral qualities; magnanimous: a noble deed

having dignity or eminence; illustrious
grand or imposing; magnificent: a noble avenue of trees
of superior quality or kind; excellent: a noble strain of horses
chem
- (of certain elements) chemically unreactive
- (of certain metals, esp copper, silver, and gold) resisting oxidation
falconry
- designating long-winged falcons that capture their quarry by stooping on it from above: Compare ignoble
- designating the type of quarry appropriate to a particular species of falcon

noun

a person belonging to a privileged social or political class whose status is usually indicated by a title conferred by sovereign authority or descent
(in the British Isles) a person holding the title of duke, marquess, earl, viscount, or baron, or a feminine equivalent

a former Brit gold coin having the value of one third of a pound

Origin of noble

C13: via Old French from Latin nōbilis, originally, capable of being known, hence well-known, noble, from noscere to know

Derived forms of noble

nobleness, noun
nobly, adverb

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

Browse