Humble
/ˈhʌmbl/
adjectiveverbB1
Definition
As an adjective, humble describes a person who does not show pride or arrogance and often thinks of themselves as ordinary or modest. It means not being proud or thinking you are better than other people. As a verb, humble means to lower someone’s pride or to make them feel less important.
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See It in Action
Adjective: Modest, not proud or arrogant
- •She is very humble despite her success.
- •A humble person often listens carefully to others.
- •His humble attitude made him many friends.
Verb: To make someone less proud or important
- •The defeat humbled the champion.
- •The experience humbled him and changed his behavior.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "humble" like "simple" (A1 word), but about how someone feels about themselves—not about things or objects.
- ✓Picture a small, quiet flower in a big garden, not trying to stand out but still beautiful in its own way.
- ✓It's the feeling when you win a prize but say, "I was lucky," instead of bragging.
- ✓Sounds like "HUM-ble" → Imagine someone gently putting down a big heavy hat labeled "pride" to feel lighter and calm.
- ✓Think of stories where heroes stay kind and modest even after great success, like a hero who never shows off.
- ✓NOT like "proud" (thinking you are better), humble means the opposite—thinking you are no better than others.
- ✓NOT like "shy" (being quiet because of fear), humble is about respect and modesty, not fear.
- ✓NOT like "boastful" (talking proudly), humble people do not show off or brag.
Try Other Words
- •Modest: not proud or showing off (Use when talking about behavior or style that is simple and not loud)
- •Unpretentious: not trying to seem better than others (Use when describing places, people, or things that are simple and natural)
- •Down-to-earth: practical and realistic, not proud (Use when describing a person who is sensible and humble in attitude)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: Root "humble" from Latin "humilis" meaning low or close to the ground
- •Etymology: From Latin "humilis," meaning low, humble, or grounded
- •Historical development: Originally meant "low in status or rank," later developed to mean modest or not proud
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people who are modest, not proud, or to describe actions that reduce pride or importance
Reflect & Connect
•Can someone be too humble? When might being humble be a problem?
•How does being humble affect the way people work together or make friends?
Fill in the blanks
1.People who are humble usually do not ___ about their achievements.
2.After losing the game, the player felt ___ and thanked the other team.
3.Being humble is different from being shy because humble people ___ respect and kindness.
4.The boss humbled the employee by ___ his mistake in front of everyone.
5.She spoke very ___ about her success, not wanting to seem proud.
6.Humble people often listen ___ to others’ opinions.
7.When someone is humble, we can often ___ that they value others more than themselves.