humble

[ huhm-buhl, uhm- ]

adjective

, hum·bler, hum·blest.

1. not proud or arrogant; modest:

   Though very successful, she remained humble.

   Synonyms: unpretentious

   Antonyms: proud

2. having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.:

   In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.

   Synonyms: meek, deferential

   Antonyms: proud

3. low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly:

   of humble origin;

   a humble home.

   Synonyms: poor, common, plain, unassuming

   Antonyms: exalted, noble

4. courteously respectful:

   In my humble opinion you are wrong.

   Synonyms: polite

   Antonyms: insolent, rude

5. low in height, level, etc.; small in size:

   a humble member of the galaxy.

verb (used with object)

, hum·bled, hum·bling.

1. to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.

   Synonyms: abash, shame, mortify

   Antonyms: exalt, elevate

2. to destroy the independence, power, or will of.

   Synonyms: break, crush, subdue

3. to make meek:

   to humble one's heart.

humble

/ ˈhʌmbəl /

adjective

1. conscious of one's failings
2. unpretentious; lowly

   a humble cottage

   my humble opinion

3. deferential or servile

verb

1. to cause to become humble; humiliate
2. to lower in status

Derived Forms

• ˈhumbleness, noun
• ˈhumbler, noun
• ˈhumbling, adjective
• ˈhumbly, adverb
• ˈhumbled, adjective
• ˈhumblingly, adverb

Other Words From

• hum·ble·ness noun
• hum·bler noun
• hum·bly adverb
• o·ver·hum·ble adjective
• qua·si-hum·ble adjective
• un·hum·ble adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of humble¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English (h)umble, from Old French, from Latin humilis “lowly, insignificant, on the ground”; humus, -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of humble¹

C13: from Old French, from Latin humilis low, from humus the ground

Idioms and Phrases

see eat crow (humble pie) .

Synonym Study

Humble, degrade, humiliate suggest lowering or causing to seem lower. To humble is to bring down the pride of another or to reduce them 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.

Example Sentences

A close ally of the president, MP Oscar Sudi, has taken to X to eat some humble pie, apologising to Catholic bishops on behalf of the government.

From BBC

“Fortunately I was able to produce and get this award which is very humbling.”

From Los Angeles Times

Once the crown prince of Rome, he was forced to flee at age 12 for his safety, and is now a humble farmer in Numidia, North Africa.

From Los Angeles Times

Weiss, for her part, was humbled by the enormity of the labor involved in making a movie.

From Los Angeles Times

Fisher recalls a similarly humbling moment in the back of a Glasgow taxi recently.

From BBC

Related Words

• courteous
• gentle
• modest
• ordinary
• polite
• quiet
• respectful
• self-effacing
• sheepish
• shy
• simple
• soft-spoken
• tentative
• timid
• unpretentious