Meaning of humble in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Definitions
  3. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  4. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈhəmbəl/

    US accent Play button

    UK accent Play button

  1. Verb

    humble

    Definitions

    1. cause to be unpretentious

    Examples

    • « This experience will humble him »
  2. 2. cause to feel shame

    Examples

    • « hurt the pride of »
    • « He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss »

    Derived terms

  3. Classifying Adjective

    humble

    Definitions

    1. low or inferior in station or quality

    Examples

    • « a humble cottage »
    • « a lowly parish priest »
    • « a modest man of the people »
    • « small beginnings »

    Synonyms

  4. 2. used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)

    Synonyms

  5. 3. of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense)

    Examples

    • « baseborn wretches with dirty faces »
    • « of humble (or lowly) birth »

    Synonyms

  6. Qualitative Adjective

    humble

    Etymology

    Middle English: from Old French, from Latin humilis‘low, lowly’, from humus‘ground’

    Definitions

    1. marked by meekness or modesty

    Examples

    • « not arrogant or prideful »
    • « a humble apology »
    • « essentially humble...and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions- B.K.Malinowski »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

Famous quotes

  • « Wisdom is humble that he knows no more. »
    William Cowper
  • « Knowledge is proud that it knows so much wisdom is humble that it knows no more. »
    William Cowper
  • « But my humble opinion is, I'm not quite sure where I stand on the legalization of drugs - though, if tequila is legal, pot should probably be legal. »
    Ted Demme
  • « Negroes - Sweet and docile, Meek, humble, and kind: Beware the day - They change their mind. »
    Langston Hughes
  • « Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. »
    Norman Vincent Peale

See also

Browse dictionary