humble

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Not proud; not thinking that you are better or more important than others.

   Despite his fame, he remained humble and friendly to everyone.

2. 2
   adj

   Simple and plain; not large or impressive.

   He lives in a humble one-bedroom cottage.

3. 3
   verb

   To make someone feel less proud or important.

   Losing to a much weaker team really humbled the champions.

Common collocations

• humble beginnings Adjective + noun

From Middle English humble, from Old French humble, umble, humle, from Latin humilis (“low, slight, hence mean, humble”) (compare Greek χαμηλός (khamēlós, “on the ground, low, trifling”)), from humus (“the earth, ground”), humi (“on the ground”). See homage, and compare chameleon, humiliate. Displaced native Old English ēaþmōd.

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