humble
HUM-buhl
/ˈhʌm.bəl/
Having or showing a low or modest estimate of one's own importance; not proud or arrogant.
Reflects an inner disposition of freedom from pride or vanity, grounded in realistic self-awareness.
The story behind the word. The story of 'humble' begins right under our feet. It traces back to the Latin noun 'humus', meaning 'soil' or 'earth'. From this came 'humilis', literally meaning 'low-lying' or 'close to the ground'. When the word entered Anglo-Norman French and then Middle English, it evolved from physical lowliness to moral and social lowliness—describing those who do not set themselves high above others.
Word relationships
- modest: Modest focuses more on behavioral restraint and moderation, whereas humble describes a deeper spiritual or psychological lack of pride.
- meek: Meek carries a connotation of passive submissiveness, while humble implies quiet strength and dignity without vanity.
- arrogant: Arrogant implies an overbearing claim of superiority, the exact opposite of humble.
- haughty: Haughty emphasizes disdainful pride toward others considered inferior.
Commonly confused with
- humiliated: Humiliated means made to feel ashamed or foolish by external circumstances, whereas humble is a positive personal virtue.
Word family
- humility (noun): The quality or state of being humble.
- humbly (adverb): In a humble or modest manner.
Collocations
- humble beginnings
- humble abode
- humble opinion
- humble pie
Idioms & expressions
- eat humble pie
Example sentences
- "To be humble to superiors is duty, to equals courtesy, to inferiors nobleness." Historical quote on duty
- "Despite winning the global innovation award, the CEO remained humble and attributed the success entirely to her engineering team." Corporate leadership
Memory hook
Think of human and humus (earth); a humble person stays grounded, close to the earth. Humble keeps your feet on the humus (soil).
When not to use
Do not use to describe someone who is actively sarcastic about themselves; use self-deprecating instead.
Fun facts
- The idiom 'eat humble pie' originally came from 'umber pie', made from animal entrails (umbles), but popular folklore connected it to 'humble' due to the identical sound!
Related words
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