Humble Meaning
/ˈhʌmbəl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjNot pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming.
adjHaving a low position or a low opinion of oneself; not proud, arrogant, or assuming; modest.
Sentence Examples
Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.
No matter how humble it is, there's no place like home.
Be humble enough to learn from your mistakes.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Even after winning the prestigious Nobel Prize, she remained very ____ and kind.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Despite his great fame and success, the scientist remained a very ____ man.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English humble, from Old French humble, umble, humle, from Latin humilis (“low, slight, hence mean, humble”) (compare Greek χαμηλός (khamēlós, “on the ground, low, trifling”)), from humus (“the earth, ground”), humi (“on the ground”). See homage, and compare chameleon, humiliate. Displaced native Old English ēaþmōd.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Roominess and unroominess in a human dwelling, even of the humblest kind, are important matters in their bearing upon man's character."
— 1894, Irish Builder and Engineer, volume 36, page 147:
"Undoubtedly it can be said that the humble 0-6-0 has been the backbone for general service, or general utility on British railways right from their earliest days, and is likely to remain so."
— 1945 November and December, H. C. Casserley, “Random Reflections on British Locomotive Types—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 320:
"Lucky that my lips not only mumble / They spill kisses like a fountain / Lucky that my breasts are small and humble / So you don't confuse 'em with mountains"
— 2001 August 30, Shakira, “Whenever, Wherever”, in Laundry Service:
"She ſhould be humble, who would pleaſe;
And ſhe muſt ſuffer, who can love."
— a. 1722 (date written), Matthew Prior, “Cloe Jealous”, in The Poetical Works of Matthew Prior […], volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan, […], published 1779, →OCLC, stanza V, page 109:
"Rosol's 65 winners to Nadal's 41 was one of the crucial statistics in the 3hr 18min match that ended in a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 triumph labelled a "miracle" by Rosol, who was humble enough to offer commiserations to Nadal."
— 2012 June 28, Jamie Jackson, “Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal”, in The Guardian, London:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Even after winning the prestigious Nobel Prize, she remained very ____ and kind.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Despite his great fame and success, the scientist remained a very ____ man.