unassuming

adjective

un·​as·​sum·​ing ˌən-ə-ˈsü-miŋ How to pronounce unassuming (audio)
: not assuming : modest
an unassuming librarian
an unassuming manner
an unassuming neighborhood
unassumingness noun

Examples of unassuming in a Sentence

He's just an unassuming guy. They lived in an unassuming home.
Recent Examples on the Web The cafe is small, unassuming yet full of a certain kind of confidence. Lisa Donovan, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024 There is real joy in how this man lives perpetually in the moment, embracing the small, unassuming pleasures of the present. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2024 At 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, Cole, who said his switch to PXG Clubs was a game changer in 2022, is unassuming, but is a reliable ball striker with a razor-sharp short game. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2024 In an unassuming industrial space in the Salt River neighborhood east of the city—once a hive of textile factories—chef Anwar Abdullatief artfully reimagines Cape Malay staples in an eight-course tasting menu at the Happy Uncles, Cape Town's first halal fine-dining restaurant. Sarah Khan, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2024 View More In person, Jackson at first seems unassuming and even shy. Thomas Chatterton Williams, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2024 McNerney was a solid Democratic vote in Congress, although his tenure was unassuming and unremarkable. East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2024 On the street, Escola looks unassuming, their thin frame made most striking by their wide and expressive eyes. Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 6 Feb. 2024 The unassuming Italian mainstay just steps from the state line at 1809 Westport Road has become my KC cheesy, carby comfort food haven. Allison Dikanovic, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unassuming.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1722, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unassuming was in 1722

Dictionary Entries Near unassuming

Cite this Entry

“Unassuming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unassuming. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

unassuming

adjective
un·​as·​sum·​ing ˌən-ə-ˈsü-miŋ How to pronounce unassuming (audio)
: not pretentious : modest
an unassuming manner
an unassuming neighborhood
unassumingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on unassuming

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!