Meaning of humble word

Last Updated:
11 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences

What does the word humble mean?

According to the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, American Heritage, and Collins English Dictionary, the word humble can be used as an adjective or verb. As an adjective, the word humble describes someone or something that is not proud, haughty, assertive or arrogant. This person has a spirit of deference or submission, or ranks low in a hierarchy scale.  As a verb, the word humble means to destroy the power, exaltation, self-sufficiency or prestige of, or to make someone feel humble or shame. One can add the suffixes ed, ing, er, and est to -ble to create humbled, humbling, humbler and humblest. The pronunciation of humble is 

Someone who is humble has modesty, meekness, subservience, submissive respect and grace. This person may view themselves as being in a lower condition to others and have little self respect or wisdom. This inferiority The quality of humility is used in religious texts like the Bible in Proverbs, and is seen as a good thing and an honor. In the Bible, people are told to “humble themselves therefore under the mighty hand of God.”

Many different languages also contain their own words for the word humble. You may notice that some of these translations of humble look and sound similar to the word humble. These are called cognates, which are often formed when two words have the same root or language of origin. This list of translations of humble is provided by Word Sense.

•  Armenian: համեստ‎, պարկեշտ‎
•  Catalan: humil‎
•  Maori: māhaki‎
•  Polish: skromny‎ (masc.), pokorny‎ (masc.)
•  Slovak: pokorný‎
•  Khmer: ធ្វើអោយសុភាព‎ (tvəə aoy so’pʰiep)
•  Indonesian: rendah hati‎
•  Esperanto: humila‎
•  Czech: pokorný‎ (masc.)
•  Norwegian: ydmyk‎
•  Finnish: vaatimaton‎, nöyrä‎
•  Norman: humbl’ye‎ (Jersey)
•  Roman: skroman‎
•  Russian: скро́мный‎, смире́нный‎, ро́бкий‎, поко́рный‎, кро́ткий‎
•  Cherokee: ᏄᏢᏉᏛᎾ‎
•  Mandarin: 謙卑‎, 谦卑‎ (qiānbēi), 謙遜‎, 谦逊‎ (qiānxùn), 謙虛‎, 谦虚‎ (qiānxū)
•  Lithuanian: kuklus‎ (masc.), kukli‎ (fem.)
•  Volapük: mükik‎
•  Romanian: umil‎
•  Galician: humilde‎
•  Irish: umhal‎
•  Latvian: vienkāršs‎ (masc.), vienkārša‎ (fem.), necils‎ (masc.), necila‎ (fem.)
•  French: humble‎
•  Japanese: 謙虚‎, 謙遜‎, 卑屈‎
•  Ido: humila‎
•  Ngazidja Comorian: nyekevu‎
•  Korean: 겸손하다‎, 경멸하다‎
•  Belarusian: сці́плы‎, скро́мны‎
•  Hebrew: צנוע‎ (tsanúa), ענו‎ (anáv)
•  Swedish: anspråkslös‎, ödmjuka‎, blygsam‎
•  Vietnamese: khiêm tốn‎, khúm núm‎
•  Georgian: თავმდაბალი‎
•  Ukrainian: скро́мний‎
•  Italian: umile‎, modesto‎
•  Luxembourgish: damiddeg‎
•  Portuguese: humilde‎
•  Estonian: alandlik‎, tagasihoidlik‎
•  Oriya: ନମ୍ର‎ (namra)
•  German: demütig‎, bescheiden‎
•  Turkish: gösterişsiz‎, mütevazı‎, kalender‎, naçiz‎, alçak gönüllü‎
•  Dutch: bescheiden‎, deemoedig‎
•  Slovene: skromen‎
•  Macedonian: смирен‎, покорен‎
•  Hungarian: alázatos‎
•  Spanish: modesto‎ (masc.), humilde‎
•  Bulgarian: смире́н‎, скро́мен‎
•  Danish: ydmyg‎
•  Cyrillic: скроман‎

How can the word humble be used in a sentence?

The word humble can be used in many different sentences. Using words in a sentence or creating flashcards and quizzes is a great way to memorize a word’s definition. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today. Below are several examples of humble.

The modest man of the people came from humble beginnings and a low birth. These small beginnings were filled with unskilled work, civil service and domestic work. He had a transformation from his years of labor and gained self-respect and self-worth to become the man he is today, receiving the highest formal honors for his charity work.

The man gave a humble apology to his colleague in front of the boss. He thought this would make him seem like a man of virtue, but it came off fake and disingenuous.

The team suffered a humbling defeat to their bitter rival at the semifinals, but when given the chance to compete in the finals after another team dropped out, they secured the victory.

The lowly parish priest was a humble servant to the community. Every morning, he cleaned the dirty faces of the orphans who lived in the church and offered free counseling to everyone who asked.

What are synonyms and antonyms of humble?

There are many different words that have the same meaning as the word humble. These are called synonyms, which are very useful to know if you are trying to expand your English language vocabulary or avoid repeating yourself. This list of synonyms of humble is provided by Thesaurus.

•  modest
•  unassuming
•  unambitious
•  unostentatious
•  mild
•  hesitant
•  docile
•  meek
•  tractable
•  deferential
•  demure
•  fearful
•  backward
•  biddable
•  obsequious
•  diffident
•  courteous
•  gentle
•  self-conscious
•  lowly
•  manageable
•  timorous
•  tentative
•  soft-spoken
•  reserved
•  supplicatory
•  servile
•  unobtrusive
•  submissive
•  subservient
•  simple
•  self-effacing
•  blushing
•  timid
•  sheepish
•  content
•  unpretentious
•  sedate
•  retiring
•  bashful
•  withdrawn
•  obliging
•  ordinary
•  standoffish
•  apprehensive
•  reverential
•  quiet
•  respectful
•  polite
•  shy

There are also numerous different words that mean the opposite of humble. These opposite words are called antonyms, which are another quick and easy way to grow your vocabulary. This list of antonyms is also provided by Thesaurus. 

•  self-absorbed
•  self-centered
•  self-important
•  vainglorious
•  egotistical
•  vain
•  conceited
•  selfish
•  self-involved
•  puffed up
•  smug
•  egotistic
•  narcissistic
•  egocentric
•  self-seeking
•  pompous
•  egoistic
•  stuck-up
•  self-serving
•  prideful
•  pride-having

What is the origin of the word humble?

According to Etymonline, the word humble has been used since the late 13c Middle English and comes from the Old French humble and Old French umble, earlier spelled umele. This comes from the Latin humilis, literally meaning on the ground. This can be compared to the Greek χαμαλός. This comes from the Latin humus meaning earth. This is of Proto-Indo-European roots. One can add the suffixes ness, tion, and bly to create the related words humbly (adv.), humbleness (n.), humility (n.) and humiliation, as well as homage. Humble has been used as a verb since the late 14c. 

Overall, the word humble means modest or meek. This person is not vain or egotistical. Humble can be used as an adjective or verb.

Sources:

1. humble | Origin and meaning of humble | Online Etymology Dictionary 
2. humble: meaning, origin, translation | Word Sense 
3. HUMBLE Synonyms: 226 Synonyms & Antonyms for HUMBLE
4. EGOTISTICAL Synonyms: 19 Synonyms & Antonyms for EGOTISTICAL | Thesaurus
5. Humble | Definition of Humble | Merriam-Webster

English[edit]

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhʌmbəl/
• (obsolete, Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈʌmbəl/
• Rhymes: -ʌmbəl
• Hyphenation: hum‧ble

Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English humble, from Old French humble, umble, humle, from Latin humilis (“low, slight, hence mean, humble”) (compare Greek χαμαλός (khamalós, “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.

The verb is from Middle English humblen (“to humble”).

Adjective[edit]

humble (comparative humbler or more humble, superlative humblest or most humble)

1. Not pretentious or magnificent; unpretending; unassuming.

   He lives in a humble one-bedroom cottage.

   • 17th century, Abraham Cowley, The Shortness of Life and Uncertainty of Riches

     The wise example of the heavenly lark.
     Thy fellow poet, Cowley, mark,
     Above the clouds let thy proud music sound,
     Thy humble nest build on the ground.

   • 1945 November and December, H. C. Casserley, “Random Reflections on British Locomotive Types—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 320:

     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.

2. Having a low opinion of oneself; not proud, arrogant, or assuming; modest.

   Synonyms: unassuming, modest

   • a. 1722, Matthew Prior, “Cloe Jealous”, in The Poetical Works of Matthew Prior […], volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan, […], published 1779, →OCLC, stanza V, page 109:

     She ſhould be humble, who would pleaſe;
       And ſhe muſt ſuffer, who can love.

   • 2012 June 28, Jamie Jackson, “Wimbledon 2012: Lukas Rosol shocked by miracle win over Rafael Nadal”, in The Guardian‎^[1], London:

     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.

Synonyms[edit]

• See Thesaurus:humble

Antonyms[edit]

Derived terms[edit]

[edit]

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

humble (third-person singular simple present humbles, present participle humbling, simple past and past participle humbled)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To defeat or reduce the power, independence, or pride of

   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

     Here, take this purse, thou whom the heaven’s plagues have humbled to all strokes.

   • 1851, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter XI, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume III, London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC, pages 68–69:

     But, after the death of the master, the servant proved himself capable of supplying with eminent ability the master’s place, and was renowned throughout Europe as one of the great Triumvirate which humbled the pride of Lewis the Fourteenth.

2. (transitive, often reflexive) To make humble or lowly; to make less proud or arrogant; to make meek and submissive.

   • 1979 September 27, Leonard Cohen (lyrics and music), “Humbled in Love”, in Recent Songs:

     And you say you’ve been humbled in love / Cut down in your love / Forced to kneel in the mud next to me

   • 2015 April 8, Dana Spiotta, “T. C. Boyle’s ‘The Harder They Come’”, in The New York Times‎^[2]:

     The final, quiet moments of the book return to Sten; his experience of his sick son humbles him, just as his aging body humbles him, and Boyle seems to suggest this makes him a better man.

Synonyms[edit]

• abase, lower, depress, humiliate, mortify, disgrace, degrade

Derived terms[edit]

• humblehood
• humbleness
• humbler (agent noun)
• humbly

Translations[edit]

Noun[edit]

humble (plural humbles)

1. (Baltimore, slang) An arrest based on weak evidence intended to demean or punish the subject.

   • 2004 October 17, Ed Burns, “Straight and True”, in The Wire, season 3, episode 5, HBO, spoken by Howard «Bunny» Colvin (Robert Wisdom):

     You’re on a corner in my district, it ain’t gonna be about no humble, it ain’t gonna be about no loitering charge, nothing like that. There gonna be some biblical shit happening to you on the way to that motherfucking jail wagon.

   • 2015 April 29, “David Simon on Baltimore’s Anguish”, in The Marshall Project‎^[3]:

     A humble is a cheap, inconsequential arrest that nonetheless gives the guy a night or two in jail before he sees a court commissioner. You can arrest people on “failure to obey,” it’s a humble. Loitering is a humble. These things were used by police officers going back to the ‘60s in Baltimore. It’s the ultimate recourse for a cop who doesn’t like somebody who’s looking at him the wrong way.

Etymology 2[edit]

From Middle English *humblen, *humbelen (suggested by humblynge (“a humming, a faint rumbling”)), frequentative of Middle English hummen (“to hum”), equivalent to hum +‎ -le.

Verb[edit]

humble (third-person singular simple present humbles, present participle humbling, simple past and past participle humbled)

1. (intransitive, chiefly obsolete) To hum.

   humbling and bumbling

Derived terms[edit]

• humblebee

Etymology 3[edit]

Noun[edit]

humble (plural humbles)

1. (Northern England, Scotland, also attributive) Alternative form of hummel.

   humble cattle

Verb[edit]

humble (third-person singular simple present humbles, present participle humbling, simple past and past participle humbled)

1. (transitive) Alternative form of hummel.

Further reading[edit]

• “humble”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• humble in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913

French[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Old French, from Latin humilis (“low, slight, hence mean, humble”) (compare Greek χαμαλός (khamalós, “on the ground, low, trifling”)), from humus (“the earth, ground”), humi (“on the ground”).

Pronunciation[edit]

• ^{(mute h)} IPA^(key): /œ̃bl/
• Rhymes: -œ̃bl
• Homophone: humbles

Adjective[edit]

humble (plural humbles)

1. humble

[edit]

• àmha
• à mon humble avis
• humblement
• humiliation
• humilier
• humilité

Further reading[edit]

• “humble”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Old French[edit]

Adjective[edit]

humble m (oblique and nominative feminine singular humble)

1. Alternative form of umble

   • circa 1170, Wace, Le Roman de Rou:

     Richart fu verz Dex humble, volentiers le servi

     Richard was humble towards God, and served him willingly

Declension[edit]