| English Dictionary |
HUMBLE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does humble mean?
• HUMBLE (adjective)
The adjective HUMBLE has 4 senses:
1. low or inferior in station or quality
2. marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
3. used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)
4. of low birth or station ('base' is archaic in this sense)
Familiarity information: HUMBLE used as an adjective is uncommon.
• HUMBLE (verb)
The verb HUMBLE has 2 senses:
1. cause to be unpretentious
2. cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
Familiarity information: HUMBLE used as a verb is rare.
Dictionary entry details
| Declension: comparative and superlative |
Superlative: humblest
Sense 1
Meaning:
Low or inferior in station or quality
Synonyms:
humble; low; lowly; modest; small
Context example:
small beginnings
Similar:
inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)
Derivation:
humbleness (the state of being humble and unimportant)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
Context example:
essentially humble...and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions
Similar:
broken; crushed; humbled; humiliated; low (subdued or brought low in condition or status)
meek; mild; modest (humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness)
Also:
modest (marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself)
Attribute:
humbleness; humility (a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride)
Antonym:
proud (feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride)
Derivation:
humbleness; humility (a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)
Synonyms:
Similar:
unskilled (not having or showing or requiring special skill or proficiency)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Of low birth or station ('base' is archaic in this sense)
Synonyms:
Context example:
of humble (or lowly) birth
Similar:
lowborn (of humble birth or origins)
Derivation:
humbleness (the state of being humble and unimportant)
| Conjugation: |
... he / she / it humbles Past simple: humbled
Past participle: humbled
-ing form: humbling
Sense 1
Meaning:
Cause to be unpretentious
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Context example:
This experience will humble him
Hypernyms (to "humble" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "humble"):
efface (make inconspicuous)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sense 2
Meaning:
Cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
Classified under:
Verbs of feeling
Synonyms:
abase; chagrin; humble; humiliate; mortify
Context example:
He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss
Hypernyms (to "humble" is one way to...):
bruise; hurt; injure; offend; spite; wound (hurt the feelings of)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "humble"):
crush; smash (humiliate or depress completely)
degrade; demean; disgrace; put down; take down (reduce in worth or character, usually verbally)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Sentence example:
Sam cannot humble Sue
Context examples
The scoundrel Buonaparte wishes to humble us.
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
She felt humbled to the dust.
(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)
God He knows that I am not worthy to be her humble servant.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
"After all, it is of no great importance, perhaps," she murmured to herself: "and then I may get better; and to humble myself so to her is painful."
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
"Who knows but what you may prove the humble instrument to save him. Why didn't you let me swat him just once? I'd like to have had a hand in it."
(Martin Eden, by Jack London)
If Harriet, from being humble, were grown vain, it was her doing too.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
I turned about several times to the company, paid my humble respects, said they were welcome, and used some other speeches I had been taught.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
Other helps had Jo—humble, wholesome duties and delights that would not be denied their part in serving her, and which she slowly learned to see and value.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I have had one lesson already in accepting facts that should make a man humble to the last hour of his life.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
My humble name and title did not appear to impress Mr. Culverton Smith.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"Who lets the rams graze gets the wool." (Albanian proverb)
"Give your friend your blood and money." (Arabic proverb)
"Think before acting and whilst acting still think." (Dutch proverb)