Humble meaning

What does “humble” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“humble” is a verb and adjective with 6 meanings. Its most common meaning is: cause to be unpretentious.

humble

cause to be unpretentious
“This experience will humble him”
cause to feel shame; hurt the pride of
“He humiliated his colleague by criticising him in front of the boss”
Synonymshumiliate mortify chagrin abase

low or inferior in station or quality
“a humble cottage”
“a lowly parish priest”
Synonymslow lowly modest small
marked by meekness or modesty; not arrogant or prideful
“a humble apology”
“essentially humble...and self-effacing, he achieved the highest formal honors and distinctions”
Oppositesproud
used of unskilled work (especially domestic work)
Synonymsmenial lowly
of low birth or station (`base' is archaic in this sense)
“baseborn wretches with dirty faces”
“of humble (or lowly) birth”
Synonymsbase baseborn lowly

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University