A modest house or other building is not large or expensive.
...the modest home of a family who lived off the land.
A one-night stay in a modest hotel costs around £35.
Synonyms: simple, homely, small, ordinary More Synonyms of modest
2. adjective
You use modest to describe something such as an amount, rate, or improvement which is fairly small.
Swiss unemployment rose to the still modest rate of 0.7%.
The democratic reforms have been modest.
You don't get rich, but you can get a modest living out of it.
Synonyms: moderate, small, limited, fair More Synonyms of modest
modestlyadverb [ADVERB after verb]
Britain's balance of payments improved modestly last month.
3. adjective
If you say that someone is modest, you approve of them because they do not talk much about their abilities or achievements.
[approval]
He's modest, as well as being a great player.
She is modest about her achievements.
Synonyms: unpretentious, simple, reserved, retiring More Synonyms of modest
modestlyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
'You really must be very good at what you do.'—'I suppose I am,' Kate said modestly.
4. adjective
A woman can be described as modest when she avoids doing or wearing anything that might cause other people to have sexual feelings towards her. You can also describe her clothes or behaviour as modest.
...cultures in which women are supposed to be modest.
modestlyadverb [ADVERB with verb, ADVERB adjective/adverb]
She sat down, knees modestly together.
More Synonyms of modest
modest in British English
(ˈmɒdɪst)
adjective
1.
having or expressing a humble opinion of oneself or one's accomplishments or abilities
2.
reserved or shy
modest behaviour
3.
not ostentatious or pretentious
4.
not extreme or excessive; moderate
5.
decorous or decent
Derived forms
modestly (ˈmodestly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: via Old French from Latin modestus moderate, from modusmode
modest in American English
(ˈmɑdɪst)
adjective
1.
having or showing a moderate opinion of one's own value, abilities, achievements, etc.; not vain or boastful; unassuming
2.
not forward; shy or reserved
modest behavior
3.
behaving, dressing, speaking, etc. in a way that is considered proper or decorous; decent
4.
moderate or reasonable; not extreme
a modest request
5.
quiet and humble in appearance, style, etc.; not pretentious
a modest home
SIMILAR WORDS: chaste, shy
Derived forms
modestly (ˈmodestly)
adverb
Word origin
Fr modeste < L modestus, keeping due measure, modest < modus: see mode
Examples of 'modest' in a sentence
modest
Interestingly this modest improvement has been in both attack and defence rather than in attack alone.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The research tends to favour bigger companies because a modest share price improvement can produce huge increases in shareholder value.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is also importing modest but rising volumes from Russia.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's also got a modest budget and a relatively small staff.
The Sun (2017)
Our request is fairly modest.
The Sun (2016)
So the shortage of rain was fairly modest.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The route to reassurance is often via modest measures that carry genuine conviction.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We only wanted to build a modest block of flats.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Medicines viewed as only modest improvements are being left on the shelf as too costly.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In some areas we will have some capacity for a modest increase.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The risk to the banks is also modest.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But this would make the amount raised relatively modest.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
What a mockery of all that is modest and decent.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But the aim will have to be fairly modest.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGEMENT: task, responsibilities, practices (1974)
The quality is often modest and attendances poor.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
All this is on the back of only modest improvements in economic data.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Their chances of buying the most modest apartment are nil and those who were renting can no longer afford the rent.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Yet he remains modest and humble.
The Sun (2008)
Working for a modest house and modest savings over your life should be rewarded, not penalised.
The Sun (2013)
The first man to step on the moon and a rather shy, modest human being.
The Sun (2012)
The Bournemouth property is a modest little home by the seaside.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They each drive a Smart car and live in modest apartments.
The Sun (2014)
Through it stood trees set in a paved garden before a country house, or modest palace.
Hyland, Paul Indian Balm - Travels in the Southern Subcontinent (1994)
His Flat form is modest but he has not had fast ground often and it means he has a light weight today.
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
modest
British English: modest /ˈmɒdɪst/ ADJECTIVE
A modest house or other building is not large or expensive.