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View synonyms for

humble

[ huhm-buhl, uhm- ]

adjective

humbler, humblest.
  1. not proud or arrogant; modest:

    Though very successful, she remained humble.

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms:

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

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

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

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

    of humble origin;

    a humble home.

    Synonyms: , , ,

    Antonyms: ,

  4. courteously respectful:

    In my humble opinion you are wrong.

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms: ,

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

    a humble member of the galaxy.



verb (used with object)

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

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms: ,

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

    Synonyms: , ,

  3. to make meek:

    to humble one's heart.

humble

/ ˈʌə /

adjective

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

    a humble cottage

    my humble opinion

  3. deferential or servile
“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

verb

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

  • ˈܳԱ, noun
  • ˈܳ, noun
  • ˈܳԲ, adjective
  • ˈܳ, adverb
  • ˈܳ, adjective
  • ˈܳԲly, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ܳ··Ա noun
  • ܳ· noun
  • ܳ· adverb
  • ··ܳ· adjective
  • ܲ·-ܳ· adjective
  • ܲ·ܳ· adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of humble1

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

see eat crow (humble pie) .
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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.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“I think the league thinks he needs to be humbled,” Neuheisel said.

From

“He’s a very down-to-earth, humble guy, and he really just wants to work,” Perry said.

From

Unsurprisingly, the two years in Russia humbled him.

From

As you may have noticed, each recipe features the humble pea, one of the most quintessential spring vegetables.

From

Pope Francis, whose warm, humble, no-nonsense manner galvanized the Roman Catholic Church and drew widespread admiration from outsiders, has died.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Humbert Ihumble abode