humblehum‧ble1 /ˈhʌmbəl/ ●○○ adjective 
a modest and humble man2having a low social class or position: He started his career as a humble peanut farmer.humble background/origins etc Iacocca rose from humble beginnings to become boss of Ford.3in my humble opinion spoken used humorously to give your opinion about something4my humble apologies British English spoken used humorously to say you are sorry5[only before noun] simple and ordinary, but useful or effective: The humble potato may be the key to feeding the world’s population.6eat humble pie to admit that you were wrong about something7your humble servant British English old use a formal way of ending a letter8somebody’s humble abode someone’s house or apartment – used humorously: Welcome to our humble abode.—humbly adverb
WORD ORIGINhumble1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French, Latin humilis ‘low, humble’, from humus ‘earth’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a humble house on a back street
- Eisenhower, Nixon, and Ford were all men of humble origins and no inherited wealth.
- Scientists say the humble potato may be the key to feeding the world's fast-growing population.
- Stephanie was humble enough to admit that others could probably do the job better than she could.
- Taylor's students describe him as a humble and modest man.
- The school had originally provided a good education for children of humble backgrounds.
- Their father was a genuinely humble man, who had worked hard for his family all his life.
- Families cherished their forbears, whether these had lived in humble cottages or in manor houses.
- From such humble beginnings in a remote Lincolnshire village he was, however, destined to make his impression on the world.
- He appears a rather humble man; but he expends considerable effort telling his full story.
- He came down with a First and started his civil service career in the humble surroundings of the National Assistance Board.
- In later years the humble feast grew into a mysterious worship, about which we know little.
- You may not realise, as you watch the humble caddie walk the fairways, how heavy that bag is.
THESAURUS
not wanting to talk about your abilities or achievements and to say that you are good at something, even when you are – used to show approval: · Miller, a quiet, modest man, gave credit to Asher for the initial discovery.· She was surprisingly modest about her own achievements as a player.
written not wanting to talk about yourself or to attract attention: · Her husband was a quiet, self-effacing man who spent much of his time in his study.
not wanting to be noticed and not expecting to be treated in a special way: · By now Chapman was famous, but he remained as unassuming as ever.· He then began, in typically unassuming fashion, to establish the first modern dance company.
believing that you are not more important, better, or cleverer than other people, and therefore not expecting to be treated in a special way: · A good leader is humble enough to get advice from experts.
not trying to seem better than other people, even if you are rich, famous, clever etc: · President Eisenhower was a friendly and unpretentious man who seemed to embody American virtues.· It's his unpretentious boyish charm that ensures Jackie Chan's position as one of the giants of international cinema.
written behaving or talking about your own abilities or achievements in a way that makes them seem unimportant: · Despite his intellect, he had an appealing self-deprecating humour.· The nice thing about him is his self-deprecating manner. His intellectual ability was never pushed at you, yet he obviously had great potential.· a self-deprecating smile
Longman Language Activatorto admit that what you said or believed was wrong to say that a criticism you previously made was wrong: take back something: · I take back everything I said.take something back: · "You will take that remark back and apologize immediately!" he roared.take it back: · She had no right to talk to you like that. You should go in there and make her take it all back.
British if one side in an argument climbs down, they agree to accept the other side's demands, especially after admitting that they were wrong: · Neither side in the dispute has been willing to climb down.· European Court decisions have forced several employers to climb down and change their policy on women's pay.
informal to be forced to admit that you were wrong because what you said would happen did not in fact happen: · I never thought Clare would be any good at this job, but I've had to eat my words.make somebody eat their words: · When Tottenham went to the top of the league early in the season, people said it wouldn't last. They have had to eat their words.
informal also eat crow American informal to be forced to admit that you were wrong and say that you are sorry: · Taylor's victory in the semi-final has forced many of her critics to eat humble pie.· Martinez had to eat crow when he bragged that the Red Sox would win the division and they came in last.
the lowest class belonging to the class of people who do not have much money or power, and who have jobs where they do physical work. For example, factory workers, builders, and drivers are working-class: · Most of the people who live round here are working class.· I come from a working-class family - I'm the first one to graduate from college.
an impolite word meaning belonging to the class that has less money, power, and education than anyone else: · It has been shown that children of lower-class parents are less likely to do well at school.· My mother's parents thought my father was terribly lower-class.
all the ordinary people in society who do not have power or influence, especially when they are thought of as not being very educated: · Television has brought cheap entertainment to the masses.· Lenin's position depended on the support of the masses.
: blue-collar worker/job/employee someone who does physical work, for example in a factory or a mine, and does not work in an office: · His political support comes mainly from blue-collar workers.
: of (a) humble background/family/origins etc from a low social class and without much money, but often with a lot of determination to work hard and succeed: · The school had originally provided a good education for children of humble backgrounds.· Eisenhower, Nixon, and Ford were all men of humble origins and no inherited wealth.
the lowest social class, who are very poor and may not have jobs, homes etc: · The government has created an underclass who do not feel they have any rights in society.
a modest person unwilling to talk about your abilities or achievements and to say that you are good at something, even when you are: · Luke was too modest to talk about his past achievements.· She was a shy, modest person, never one to push herself forward.
formal not wanting to talk about yourself or to attract attention: · Her husband was a quiet, self-effacing man who spent much of his time in his study.· In those days women were expected to be quiet, passive and self-effacing.
not wanting to be noticed and not expecting to be treated in a special way, because you do not think you are important: · I often see her in the library. She's such a nice, unassuming person.· By now Chapman was famous, but on a social level he remained as unassuming as ever.
thinking that you are unimportant and not as good or clever as other people, and therefore not expecting to be treated in a special way: · Their father was a genuinely humble man, who had worked hard for his family all his life.· Stephanie was humble enough to admit that others could probably do the job better than she could.
not trying to seem better than other people, even if you are rich, famous, clever etc: · Umbria is a wonderful region, where life is simple and the people are unpretentious country folk.· Jilly was surprised by how pleasant and unpretentious he was. Not like a big star at all.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Iacocca rose from humble beginnings to become boss of Ford. The humble potato may be the key to feeding the world’s population.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
Iacocca rose from humble beginnings to become boss of Ford. The humble potato may be the key to feeding the world’s population. (=used when giving your opinion, especially when you want to emphasize what you are about to say)· In my humble opinion, he is the greatest sportsman Britain has produced.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· To think that a man of so many millions should visit our humble abode.
· She wanted university endowments to be used to fund poor preachers and scholars from humble backgrounds.· Republican Presidents of the late twentieth century-Eisenhower, Nixon, Fordhad all been men of humble background and no inherited wealth.
· From humble beginnings sales have quadrupled and are set for further high growth in the next three years.· He had no one to envy, for life had been good to him, especially considering his humble beginnings.· From such apparently humble beginnings a competent operator can produce very professional documents indeed.· He went on to speak at length of how he, Fakhru, had started out from just such humble beginnings.· To his humble beginnings in Up Hatherely and his school days.· From such humble beginnings in a remote Lincolnshire village he was, however, destined to make his impression on the world.· From those humble beginnings, Oxfam has grown into Britain's largest aid agency with an income of nearly 70 million pounds.
· Excellently done nevertheless, in my humble opinion.· In my humble opinion, Sarah is not so much interested in old relationships as new.· In my humble opinion, he should not be called upon for such justification.· In Ursula's humble opinion, the ice might start to thaw if you stop being a brutish, insensitive lout.· Anyway, just my 2p worth ... all very humble opinions of course!· And my humble opinion is this.
· Sid was always fond of reminding his audience of darts' humble origins.· In the case of plumes, the evidence for how they look comes from humble origins.· As a prime minister he probably ranked with Ramsay MacDonald in humble origin and modest wealth.· A man of humble origins with little formal education, Mr Bérégovoy had always taken pride in his reputation for integrity.· Dentists have a humble origin, in that they are part of the history of jewellery.· The list is bottomless, no doubt, but what about his humble origins?· Social status, so quickly achieved, made the family unwilling in later years to acknowledge their very humble origins.
· Come and take potluck eat humble pie whatever.· The Midlanders have been eating humble pie this season, though they deserve better fare.· Eat humble pie and get used to it mate.· It was a bad defeat for an opponent who had already eaten humble pie after an outspoken attack on Wimbledon last year.· The critics of Spinning were swallowing large slices of humble pie after the reformed gelding completed a fabulous Goodwood double yesterday.· And along with their stirrup cups, they were all eating humble pie.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► your humble servant► my humble apologiesPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1not considering yourself or your ideas to be as important as other people’s OPP proud: - Welcome to our humble abode.
- Excellently done nevertheless, in my humble opinion.
- In my humble opinion, he should not be called upon for such justification.
- In my humble opinion, Sarah is not so much interested in old relationships as new.
- Come and take potluck eat humble pie whatever.
- The Midlanders have been eating humble pie this season, though they deserve better fare.
- Martinez had to eat crow when he bragged that the Red Sox would win the division and they came in last.
- Taylor's victory in the semi-final has forced many of her critics to eat humble pie.
- Come and take potluck eat humble pie whatever.
- The Midlanders have been eating humble pie this season, though they deserve better fare.
a modest and humble man2having a low social class or position: He started his career as a humble peanut farmer.humble background/origins etc Iacocca rose from humble beginnings to become boss of Ford.3in my humble opinion spoken used humorously to give your opinion about something4my humble apologies British English spoken used humorously to say you are sorry5[only before noun] simple and ordinary, but useful or effective: The humble potato may be the key to feeding the world’s population.6eat humble pie to admit that you were wrong about something7your humble servant British English old use a formal way of ending a letter8somebody’s humble abode someone’s house or apartment – used humorously: Welcome to our humble abode.—humbly adverb