Humble
'hʌm.bəl
Definitions
2 meaningsNot proud or arrogant; modest.
'hʌm.bəl
Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.
Despite her success, she remained humble.
💡 Simply: Imagine your friend just aced a test, but instead of bragging, they say, 'I just studied really hard.' That's being humble! It means you're not trying to show off, even when you have something to brag about.
👶 For kids: Being humble means you don't think you are better than others, even if you are good at something.
More Examples
He attributed his achievements to hard work, not natural talent, showing a humble attitude.
A humble person is always willing to learn from others.
How It's Used
"She was a humble person, always giving credit to others."
"The protagonist, despite his accomplishments, remained humble."
"The monk lived a humble life, renouncing worldly possessions."
To make someone feel less important or proud.
'hʌm.bəl
Cause (someone) to feel or show deference or respect.
The loss humbled the team.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're really confident, but then you get a reality check – maybe you mess up something big. That experience can 'humble' you, making you realize you're not always right or the best. It's like knocking you down a peg or two.
👶 For kids: To humble someone means to make them feel that they are not as important or good as they thought.
More Examples
The harsh criticism humbled him.
His illness humbled him, making him appreciate the simple things in life.
How It's Used
"The harsh realities of war humbled the young soldier."
"Experiencing failure can humble a person."
Idioms & expressions
eat humble pie
To admit you were wrong, or to apologize.
"After losing the argument, he had to eat humble pie and apologize for his mistake."
From Old French *humble* (Latin *humilis*, meaning 'low, near the ground, of the earth').
In older texts, 'humble' was often used to express a sense of lowliness and subservience.
Memory tip
Think of a hum-bird, small and unassuming. Humble people don't boast.