modest
MOD-ist
/ˈmɒd.ɪst/
Unwilling to talk proudly about one's abilities, achievements, or possessions; moderate or limited in scale.
Focuses on staying within appropriate boundaries, avoiding boastfulness or excessive display.
The story behind the word. In ancient Rome, 'modus' meant a boundary, rule, or exact measure. From this came 'modestus', describing someone who lives within proper boundaries without exceeding reasonable limits. Over time, the English word came to mean both personal restraint in self-praise and moderation in size or quantity.
Word relationships
- unassuming: Unassuming emphasizes an absence of pomp or demands for attention, whereas modest specifically highlights unwillingness to boast.
- humble: Humble refers to internal attitude toward status, while modest often describes outward behavior, size, or appearance.
- boastful: Boastful describes actively bragging about achievements.
- extravagant: Extravagant refers to excessive, immoderate size or spending.
Commonly confused with
- modish: Modish means fashionable or trendy, whereas modest means reserved or limited in scale.
Word family
- modesty (noun): The quality of being modest.
- modestly (adverb): In a modest manner.
Collocations
- modest income
- modest request
- modest ambition
- modest attire
Example sentences
- "Elinor had a delicate sense of propriety, and her judgment was good; she was modest, sweet, and intelligent." Classic literature excerpt
- "The startup posted modest earnings during its first quarter, opting to reinvest most revenues into research." Business report
Memory hook
Modest people keep things in MODERATION and within the MODUS (measure). Modest keeps things measured.
When not to use
Do not use when you mean excessively shy to the point of social dysfunction; use diffident or timid instead.
Fun facts
- The root 'modus' also gave us 'mode', 'modify', 'model', and 'moderate', all sharing the core idea of measuring or setting limits.
Related words
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