Definition of humble
humbler
play \ˈhəm-b(ə-)lər\;humblest
play \ˈhəm-b(ə-)ləst\2 : reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission a humble apology
3a : ranking low in a hierarchy or scale : insignificant, unpretentiousb : not costly or luxurious a humble contraption
People Are Reading
Examples of humble in a Sentence
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
Despite all his achievements, he has remained humble.
He is very humble about his achievements.
She is too humble to let praise go to her head.
Please accept my humble apologies.
Her humble suggestion is that we review the data more carefully.
He comes from a humble background.
She's not ashamed of her humble beginnings.
Recent Examples of humble from the Web
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A father of two daughters and a lover of science fiction, Mr. Acosta is known within his department for being humble and genial.
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Can the greatness of a country’s cuisine be measured by its humblest dishes?
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The humble assessment was in keeping with his season, which has been filled not only with goals and assists but modesty.
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If Mr. Tillerson is confirmed, the State Department would be the latest step up in a career and life with humble origins.
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The humble meal for a day of thanks will represent another first for the center, Hawaii’s only shelter focused exclusively on homeless families with children.
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All of them, but in particular the humble businesses that are often ignored in favor of highfliers.
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Mr. Lauren, in essence, made an upper-class aura accessible to everyone, from Hollywood starlets and hip-hop artists to countless people of humble origins and means.
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From its humble, bored-teenager beginnings, the term spread quickly around the country (with some help from Deadheads).
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'humble'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Humility: Its Use and Meaning
Humility means “the state of being humble.” Both it and humble have their origin in the Latin word humilis, meaning "low."
Humble can be used to describe what is ranked low by others, as in "persons of humble origins." People also use the word of themselves and things associated with themselves; if you describe yourself as "but a humble editor" or refer to your home as your "humble abode," you are saying that neither you nor your home is very impressive.
Like this latter use of humble, the kind of lowness expressed in the word humility is typically one chosen by oneself. Here are some examples of humility in use:
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
— Proverbs 11:2A sudden humility descended upon the King. He felt, as so many men were to feel in similar circumstances in ages to come, as though he were a child looking eagerly for guidance to an all-wise master—a child, moreover, handicapped by water on the brain, feet three sizes too large for him, and hands consisting mainly of thumbs.
— P. G. Wodehouse, The Clicking of Cuthbert, 1922Eating grits and fatback for breakfast and washing up every morning in cold water from a hydrant in the backyard helped one learn humility and humanity.
— Julius Lester, Falling Pieces of Broken Sky, 1990I realize now that she had an awareness of the nature of the order of life, and of the necessity of living with and respecting that order. With this respect comes a necessary humility that we, with our early-21st-century chutzpah, lack at our peril.
— Bill Joy, Wired, April 2000Who has not gazed at the night sky, mouth slightly agape? The experience is so common, its effects so uniform, that a standard vocabulary has evolved to describe it. Invariably we speak of the profound humility we feel before the enormity of the universe. We are as bits of dust in a spectacle whose scope beggars the imagination, whose secrets make a mockery of reason.
— Edwin Dobb, Harper's, February 1995If leadership has a secret sauce, it may well be humility. A humble boss understands that there are things he doesn't know. He listens: not only to the other bigwigs in Davos, but also to the kind of people who don't get invited, such as his customers.
—The Economist, 26 Jan. 2013
For many, the lowness in both humility and humble is something worth cultivating.
Origin and Etymology of humble
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin humilis low, humble, from humus earth; akin to Greek chthōn earth, chamai on the ground
First Known Use: 13th century
Definition of humble
humbled
;humbling
play \ˈhəm-b(ə-)liŋ\Examples of humble in a Sentence
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
Her success has humbled her critics.
Last year's champion was humbled by an unknown newcomer.
Recent Examples of humble from the Web
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And sometimes we’re humbled by encountering something so grand, meaningful or sublime that our own small selves are thrown into stark contrast — things like history, or the cosmos, or the divine.
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A soap-opera actress on tour is humbled by the outpouring of love from fans.
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Maybe that humbled soap actress was moved to recognize a modest estimate of her own worth and submit herself to her fans.
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Vergennes had achieved his aim of humbling the British and dividing their empire.
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The Raiders were humbled by the Chiefs 21-13 in the NFL’s Thursday night game.
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Cadets quarterback Nick Iannone, a junior and second-year starter, said last year’s playoff loss humbled the team.
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Bryant said after Rich Hill and the Dodgers bullpen had humbled the lineup again.
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But I’m so honored and humbled that people seem to relate to me in some way.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'humble'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of humble
see 1humble
First Known Use: 14th century
HUMBLE Defined for English Language Learners
humble
playDefinition of humble for English Language Learners
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: not proud : not thinking of yourself as better than other people
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: given or said in a way that shows you do not think you are better than other people
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: showing that you do not think of yourself as better than other people
humble
playDefinition of humble for English Language Learners
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: to make (someone) feel less important or proud : to make (someone) humble
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: to easily defeat (someone or something) in a way that is surprising or not expected
HUMBLE Defined for Kids
Definition of humble for Students
humbler
;humblest
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.
humbly
\-blē\ adverbDefinition of humble for Students
humbled
;humbling
1 : to make modest The failure humbled him.
2 : to easily and unexpectedly defeat Our surprise attack humbled the enemy.
Learn More about humble
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for humble Spanish Central: Translation of humble Nglish: Translation of humble for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of humble for Arabic speakers
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