First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1humble
adjective hum·ble \ˈhəm-bəl also chiefly Southern ˈəm-\
: not proud : not thinking of yourself as better than other people
: given or said in a way that shows you do not think you are better than other people
: showing that you do not think of yourself as better than other people
hum·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ hum·blest \-b(ə-)ləst\
Full Definition of HUMBLE
2
: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission <a humble apology>
3
a : ranking low in a hierarchy or scale : insignificant, unpretentious b : not costly or luxurious <a humble contraption>
— hum·ble·ness \-bəl-nəs\ noun
— hum·bly \-blē\ adverb
See humble defined for English-language learners
See humble defined for kids
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Examples of HUMBLE
- Humble though it may be, and about as glamorous as a galosh, it is a fish that has shaped the political and social history of Europe like no other, with the possible exception of cod. —R. W. Apple, Jr., New York Times, 30 Oct. 2002
- She would not come closer to me, as much as I thought she wished to, hungering not for anything like love but for plain, humble succor. —Chang-rae Lee, A Gesture Life, 1999
- Women are the organizing soft-centered socialists, the nice people, the sugar-and-spice lot, identifying with the poor and humble; men are snips and snails and puppy-dog tails, and rampant, selfish, greedy capitalists. —Fay Weldon, Harper's, May 1998
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Origin of HUMBLE
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin humilis low, humble, from humus earth; akin to Greek chthōn earth, chamai on the ground
Related to HUMBLE
- Synonyms
- demure, down-to-earth, lowly, meek, modest, unassuming, unpretentious
- Antonyms
- arrogant, bumptious, chesty, conceited, egotistic (or egotistical), fastuous, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, hoity-toity, huffish, huffy, imperious, lordly, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, supercilious, superior, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity
2humble
verb hum·ble \ˈhəm-bəl also chiefly Southern ˈəm-\
: to make (someone) feel less important or proud : to make (someone) humble
: to easily defeat (someone or something) in a way that is surprising or not expected
hum·bledhum·bling \-b(ə-)liŋ\
Full Definition of HUMBLE
transitive verb
1
: to make (someone) humble (see 1humble) in spirit or manner
2
: to destroy the power, independence, or prestige of
— hum·bler \-b(ə-)lər\ noun
— hum·bling·ly \-b(ə-)liŋ-lē\ adverb
See humble defined for English-language learners
Examples of HUMBLE
- Cuba's reliance on tourism is a somewhat humbling turn for the revolution, which has long prided itself on producing topflight doctors and teachers—not concierges. —Tim Padgett, Time, 22 Dec. 2003
- … audiences loved to see villains punished and arrogant young men humbled, they did not want to fidget and squirm through mea culpas before the final scene. —Elaine Showalter, Civilization, April/May 1999
- It frightened and humbled him but also made him feel darkly charmed. —Don DeLillo, Mao II, 1991
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Origin of HUMBLE
(see 1humble)
First Known Use: 14th century
Related to HUMBLE
HUMBLENESS Defined for Kids
1humble
adjective hum·ble \ˈhəm-bəl\
hum·blerhum·blest
Definition of HUMBLE for Kids
1
: not regarding others as inferior : not overly proud : modest <She is humble despite her great success.>
2
: expressed in a way that does not show too much pride <humble apologies>
3
: low in rank or condition <They are people of humble origin.>
— hum·bly \-blē\ adverb
2humble
verb
hum·bledhum·bling
Definition of HUMBLE for Kids
1
: to make modest <The failure humbled him.>
2
: to easily and unexpectedly defeat <Our surprise attack humbled the enemy.>
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