Library / English Dictionary

HUMBLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Example:

of humble (or lowly) birth

Synonyms:

base; baseborn; humble; lowly

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

lowborn (of humble birth or origins)

Derivation:

humbleness (the state of being humble and unimportant)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful

Example:

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

Classified under:

Adjectives

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

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

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

Sense 4

Meaning:

Low or inferior in station or quality

Example:

small beginnings

Synonyms:

humble; low; lowly; modest; small

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

inferior (of or characteristic of low rank or importance)

Derivation:

humbleness (the state of being humble and unimportant)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of

Example:

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

Synonyms:

abase; chagrin; humble; humiliate; mortify

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to be unpretentious

Example:

This experience will humble him

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

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

Credits

 Context examples: 

And so, in humble and thankful mood, I close this account.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I find life precarious enough in my present humble situation. I have no experience. Mediocrity, you see, has its compensations.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I can make no submission—I am grown neither humble nor penitent by what has passed.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

“But,” he added, “you will of course wish to have your humble respects delivered to them, with your grateful thanks for their kindness to you while you have been here.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Since you oblige me to speak more plainly, which I am very unwilling to do, her humble connexions would render such a thing impossible, if nothing else did.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Yes, my correspondence has certainly the charm of variety, he answered, smiling, and the humbler are usually the more interesting.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But now a team of researchers have harnessed the power of this humble herb to attack the insect’s larvae before it can spread, using another common ingredient.

(Thyme oil and corn starch prove deadly for mosquito larvae, SciDev.Net)

She was humble, and wishing to be forgiven; and Mr. Yates, desirous of being really received into the family, was disposed to look up to him and be guided.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

His increasing fame had brought with it an immense practice, and I should be guilty of an indiscretion if I were even to hint at the identity of some of the illustrious clients who crossed our humble threshold in Baker Street.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

She had come to Bath on that account, and was now in lodgings near the hot baths, living in a very humble way, unable even to afford herself the comfort of a servant, and of course almost excluded from society.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)