Humble

/ˈhʌm.bəl/

Meaning & Definition

verb
To lower in dignity or importance.
The defeat humbled the once proud champion.
To make someone feel less important.
She felt humbled by the praise she received from her peers.
adjective
Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
Despite his fame and success, he remained a humble man.
Of low social, administrative, or political rank.
They came from humble beginnings but worked hard to achieve their dreams.
Used as a polite reference to one's own rank or importance.
In my humble opinion, we need to reconsider our strategy.

Etymology

From Latin 'humilis' meaning lowly.

Common Phrases and Expressions

stay humble
To remain modest despite success or recognition.
humble pie
A phrase meaning to be humble, often after a failure or mistake.
humble beginnings
Start from a low or modest position or background.

Related Words

humility
The quality of being humble.
humbleness
The state of being humble.
humiliate
To make someone feel ashamed or embarrassed.

Slang Meanings

To keep it real
He always keeps it humble, never showing off.
Low-key
She likes to be low-key and humble about her achievements.