# humble

/ˈhəmbəɫ/ (US) · /hˈʌmbəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/humble
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. modest

adjective · CEFR B2

not proud or not thinking that you are better than other people.

For teachers: having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance.

- Despite his great success, he remained a humble man who always helped his neighbors.
- The scientist was remarkably humble about her discovery, insisting that the credit belonged to the entire research collective rather than herself.

### 2. simple or low status

adjective · CEFR B2

simple and not expensive; having a low social position.

For teachers: of low social, administrative, or political rank; simple and unpretentious in quality.

- He grew up in a humble home in a small fishing village.
- The billionaire often spoke of his humble beginnings, working three jobs to pay for his first year of university tuition.

### 4. police harassment

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · American English

an arrest made by police just to annoy or disrespect someone, even without good evidence.

For teachers: an arrest made on weak or non-existent evidence, intended primarily to demean, punish, or exert control over the subject.

- The lawyer argued that the arrest was just a humble to keep his client off the street.
- Civil rights advocates criticized the frequent use of the 'humble' as a tactic to intimidate local activists without filing formal charges.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'a humble' or 'the humble' within specific legal or activist subcultures.

## Examples

- The champion's loss will humble him.
- The young athlete was acting very arrogant until the veteran player managed to humble him during the final match.
- While the professor intended to humble the student's intellectual vanity, the harsh public critique instead fostered a sense of resentment that stifled further classroom participation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.