modest

adjective mod·est \ ˈmä-dəst \

Updated on: 7 May 2018

Definition of modest

1 a : placing a moderate estimate on one's abilities or worth

b : neither bold nor self-assertive : tending toward diffidence

2 : arising from or characteristic of a modest nature

3 : observing the proprieties of dress and behavior : decent

4 a : limited in size, amount, or scope

a family of modest means

b : unpretentious

a modest home

—

modestly

adverb

See modest defined for English-language learners

See modest defined for kids

Examples of modest in a Sentence

The foundry work was grueling, but for a little longer Brierfield afforded these African Americans a way station of modest freedom and a residue of authentic independence that was fast disappearing for most rural blacks. —Douglas A. Blackmon, Slavery By Another Name, 2008
… these remnants he lacked the will to discard, depressed him, deepening the low fever of depression in which even as modest a task as removing a blue doorknob loomed like a mountain almost impossible to climb. —John Updike, Harper's, October 2004
You're the hero, so then you have to behave in a certain way—there is a prescription for it. You have to be modest, you have to be forbearing, you have to be deferential, you have to be understanding. —Philip Roth, American Pastoral, 1997
They own a modest home near the beach.
She enjoyed modest success with her singing career.
He earns a modest income.
We live on a modest budget.
New cars are now available at relatively modest prices.
He has only a modest amount of knowledge on the subject.
It is a book of only modest importance.
She's very modest about her achievements.
Don't be so modest. Your performance was wonderful!
“I'm not a hero. I was just doing my job,” he said in his characteristically modest way.

Recent Examples of modest from the Web

NBC News has since issued a correction to say that prosecutors had actually taken the far more modest step of pulling Cohen’s phone logs.

— alex ward, Vox, "Federal investigators pulled Trump lawyer Michael Cohen’s phone logs," 3 May 2018
The Senate bill, a bipartisan measure, is decidedly more modest.

— kevin freking, BostonGlobe.com, "Coauthor of Dodd-Frank says bill’s foundation will survive," 3 May 2018
Adding lanes to the busy highway that is dotted with traffic signals would likely be cost prohibitive, which suggests a more modest intersection redesign solution, state officials have said.

— kim chatelain, NOLA.com, "11 'super streets' to be built on North Shore's traffic-choked U.S. 190," 3 May 2018
In the past year, other mainstream brands like Macy’s, Nike, and American Eagle have offered more modest options through capsule collections and seen success.

— avery matera, Teen Vogue, "H&M Launches Modest Fashion Line LTD," 2 May 2018
And for all their hard work, the horse’s rewards are remarkably more modest than the large purses awarded to their owners.

— alvaro montaño, Houston Chronicle, "Spring ISD wins two events, athletes compete at regional meet," 2 May 2018
Since then, the coalition has set a more modest goal of planting 361,000 trees by 2030, which would raise tree coverage to 30 percent by 2040.

— steven litt, cleveland.com, "Arbor Day highlights Tree Coalition efforts to help balding Cleveland live up to 'Forest City' nickname," 27 Apr. 2018
But last night in Las Vegas, the actress took a more modest approach to her dress.

— edward barsamian, Vogue, "Dakota Johnson Lights Up the Red Carpet in Spring’s It Color," 27 Apr. 2018
On the more modest end, there’s the Honest Ads Act.

— aaron pressman, Fortune, "Facebook Can't Fix this Problem Alone," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'modest.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Modest: Ever So Humble

When used to modify a sum or amount, or to mean "unpretentious," modest conveys a sense of not being excessive:

Captives received a modest salary of $0.80 per day, working at farms around Sonoma County picking apples, prunes, hops and other crops.
Janet Balicki, The Santa Rosa (Calif.) Press Democrat, 8 Dec. 2016

The minister of foreign affairs drove up in a modest car and joined our conversation.
Michael Taussig, Vice, 22 June 2016

The adjective humble is often used this way too, as when one speaks of "one's humble abode." Both words can be used in a humorous way that might be seen as self-deprecating.

Like humble, modest adequately describe one who does not boast about one's achievements, thereby avoiding a different kind of excessiveness:

Louisa May Alcott was always modest about her gifts; whatever early dreams of genius she might have nourished had been knocked out of her years before her literary fame arrived.
Barbara L. Packer, The New York Times Book Review, 25 Oct. 1987

Soft-spoken and modest in conversation, Knoll would be accomplished enough with his visual-effects credits in movies alone.
Julie Hinds, The Detroit Free Press, 11 Dec. 2016

Origin and Etymology of modest

Latin modestus moderate; akin to Latin modus measure

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1550

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

modest Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of modest

shy, bashful, diffident, modest, coy mean not inclined to be forward. shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

- shy with strangers

bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence.

- a bashful boy out on his first date

diffident stresses a distrust of one's own ability or opinion that causes hesitation in acting or speaking.

- felt diffident about raising an objection

modest suggests absence of undue confidence or conceit.

- modest about her success

coy implies a pretended shyness.

- put off by her coy manner

chaste, pure, modest, decent mean free from all taint of what is lewd or salacious. chaste primarily implies a refraining from acts or even thoughts or desires that are not virginal or not sanctioned by marriage vows.

- they maintained chaste relations

pure differs from chaste in implying innocence and absence of temptation rather than control of one's impulses and actions.

- the pure of heart

modest and decent apply especially to deportment and dress as outward signs of inward chastity or purity.

- preferred more modest swimsuits
- decent people didn't go to such movies

MODEST Defined for English Language Learners

modest

adjective

Definition of modest for English Language Learners

: not very large in size or amount
: not too proud or confident about yourself or your abilities : not showing or feeling great or excessive pride
of clothing : not showing too much of a person's body