Modesty
/ˈmɑːdɪsti/
nounB2
Definition
Modesty means not showing too much pride in yourself or your achievements. It is about being humble and not thinking you are better than others. Modesty also refers to dressing or acting in a way that is not too loud or revealing, so you do not attract too much attention.
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See It in Action
Humility about one’s own qualities or achievements
- •She showed modesty by thanking her team instead of taking all the credit.
- •His modesty made him popular because he never bragged.
- •Modesty is important when you want to be respected by others.
Behavior or dress that avoids attracting too much attention, especially about the body
- •Many cultures value modesty in how people dress.
- •She wore a dress that showed modesty, covering her shoulders and knees.
- •Modesty can mean choosing clothes that are simple and not too bright.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "modesty" like "quiet" but about how you show yourself—quiet in your pride and actions, not loud or flashy
- ✓Picture a person who smiles gently and listens more than talks about themselves
- ✓It's the feeling when you do something good but don’t brag or show off to others
- ✓Sounds like "MOD-es-tee" → imagine a "modest" model walking softly without bright or bold clothes, keeping calm and simple
- ✓Think of stories where heroes are humble and don’t boast about their strength or success
- ✓NOT like "pride" (showing off or feeling very proud), modesty means the opposite—being humble and calm
- ✓NOT like "shameless" (not caring about others’ opinions), modesty means caring about how you appear and respecting others
- ✓NOT like "bold" or "flashy" (loud or attention-seeking), modesty is quiet and careful in behavior or dress
Try Other Words
- •Humility: the quality of being humble and not proud (Use when focusing on inner feeling of not being proud)
- •Reserve: quiet and controlled behavior (Use when focusing on behavior that is calm and not showing much)
- •Decency: proper and polite behavior, especially in dress (Use when focusing on social rules about dress or actions)
- •Shyness: feeling nervous or uncomfortable in front of others (Use when modesty is about being quiet because of nervousness, but modesty is more about choice)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "modest" (not proud or showy) + suffix "-y" (makes a noun meaning quality or state)
- •Etymology: From Latin "modestia," meaning moderation or keeping within limits
- •Historical development: Used since the 1400s in English, originally about moderation in behavior and dress
- •Modern usage: Used to describe both personal attitude (humility) and social behavior (simple, not showy dress or actions)
- •Interesting fact: Modesty can be seen differently in different cultures, what is modest in one place may not be in another
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think modesty affects the way people see you in different places or cultures?
•Can modesty sometimes be confused with shyness? How are they different in your experience?
Fill in the blanks
1.She showed modesty by ___ all the praise to her helpers instead of taking ___ herself.
2.Modesty in dress means choosing clothes that ___ too much skin or are too bright.
3.Unlike pride, modesty is about not ___ your achievements to others.
4.When someone acts with modesty, they often speak ___ about their skills or successes.
5.In some cultures, modesty is very important and people feel ___ if they dress or behave too boldly.
6.Modesty is different from shyness because modesty is a ___ choice to be humble and simple.
7.People who have modesty usually avoid ___ attention or making themselves the center of a group.