English Dictionary

HUMBLE

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does humble mean? 

HUMBLE (adjective)
  The adjective HUMBLE has 4 senses:

1. low or inferior in station or qualityplay

2. marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or pridefulplay

3. used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)play

4. of low birth or station ('base' is archaic in this sense)play

  Familiarity information: HUMBLE used as an adjective is uncommon.


HUMBLE (verb)
  The verb HUMBLE has 2 senses:

1. cause to be unpretentiousplay

2. cause to feel shame; hurt the pride ofplay

  Familiarity information: HUMBLE used as a verb is rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


HUMBLE (adjective)

 Declension: comparative and superlative 
Comparative: humbler  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Superlative: humblest  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Low or inferior in station or quality

Synonyms:

humble; low; lowly; modest; small

Context example:

small beginnings

Similar:

inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)

Derivation:

humbleness (the state of being humble and unimportant)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful

Context example:

essentially humble...and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions

Similar:

broken; crushed; humbled; humiliated; low (subdued or brought low in condition or status)

meek; mild; modest (humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness)

Also:

modest (marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself)

Attribute:

humbleness; humility (a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride)

Antonym:

proud (feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride)

Derivation:

humbleness; humility (a disposition to be humble; a lack of false pride)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)

Synonyms:

humble; lowly; menial

Similar:

unskilled (not having or showing or requiring special skill or proficiency)


Sense 4

Meaning:

Of low birth or station ('base' is archaic in this sense)

Synonyms:

base; baseborn; humble; lowly

Context example:

of humble (or lowly) birth

Similar:

lowborn (of humble birth or origins)

Derivation:

humbleness (the state of being humble and unimportant)


HUMBLE (verb)

 Conjugation: 
Present simple: I / you / we / they humble  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it humbles  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past simple: humbled  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
Past participle: humbled  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation
-ing form: humbling  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation


Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to be unpretentious

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Context example:

This experience will humble him

Hypernyms (to "humble" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "humble"):

efface (make inconspicuous)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody


Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

abase; chagrin; humble; humiliate; mortify

Context example:

He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss

Hypernyms (to "humble" is one way to...):

bruise; hurt; injure; offend; spite; wound (hurt the feelings of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "humble"):

crush; smash (humiliate or depress completely)

degrade; demean; disgrace; put down; take down (reduce in worth or character, usually verbally)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot humble Sue


 Context examples 


The scoundrel Buonaparte wishes to humble us.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She felt humbled to the dust.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

God He knows that I am not worthy to be her humble servant.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"After all, it is of no great importance, perhaps," she murmured to herself: "and then I may get better; and to humble myself so to her is painful."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"Who knows but what you may prove the humble instrument to save him. Why didn't you let me swat him just once? I'd like to have had a hand in it."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

If Harriet, from being humble, were grown vain, it was her doing too.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I turned about several times to the company, paid my humble respects, said they were welcome, and used some other speeches I had been taught.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Other helps had Jo—humble, wholesome duties and delights that would not be denied their part in serving her, and which she slowly learned to see and value.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I have had one lesson already in accepting facts that should make a man humble to the last hour of his life.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

My humble name and title did not appear to impress Mr. Culverton Smith.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
"Money talks, bullshit walks." (English proverb)

"Who lets the rams graze gets the wool." (Albanian proverb)

"Give your friend your blood and money." (Arabic proverb)

"Think before acting and whilst acting still think." (Dutch proverb)



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