unassuming
un-uh-SOO-ming
/ˌʌn.əˈsjuː.mɪŋ/
Not pretentious or arrogant; quiet and not drawing attention to oneself.
Describes a person, exterior, or setting that makes no claims to grandeur and demands no special treatment.
The story behind the word. To 'assume' originally meant to take something upon oneself, such as a title, authority, or posture. An 'assuming' person in 17th-century English was someone who arrogantly claimed privileges or self-importance. Prefixing 'un-' flipped the meaning to describe someone who claims no titles or special praise.
Word relationships
- unpretentious: Unpretentious refers specifically to a lack of pretense or false elegance, while unassuming refers broader to a quiet, non-demanding presence.
- unobtrusive: Unobtrusive means blending into the background so as not to interrupt, whereas unassuming describes a non-arrogant personality.
- presumptuous: Presumptuous means overly bold or taking liberties beyond one's rank.
- pretentious: Pretentious means trying to appear more important or talented than one actually is.
Commonly confused with
- unassuming vs unassume: 'Unassume' is not a modern active verb; 'unassuming' functions purely as an adjective meaning non-arrogant.
Word family
- unassumingness (noun): The state or quality of being unassuming.
- unassumingly (adverb): In an unassuming manner.
Collocations
- unassuming demeanor
- unassuming nature
- unassuming exterior
- unassuming manner
Example sentences
- "He was an unassuming man who walked through the crowded capital completely unrecognized despite his world fame." Literary biography
- "Behind its unassuming brick facade, the building houses an astonishing contemporary art collection." Architectural review
Memory hook
UN-ASSUMING = NOT ASSUMING you are superior to anyone else. Unassuming claims no stage.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a person who is actively submissive under coercion; use meek.
Fun facts
- In 18th-century English, calling someone an 'assuming character' was a strong insult meaning arrogant and self-entitled.
Related words
Explore more words
retiring, unassertive, self-contained, tranquil, pretentious, unruffled
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