# humbled

/ˈhəmbəɫd/ (US) · /hˈʌmbəld/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/humbled
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

feeling less proud or important because of something that happened. You often feel this way when you receive a great honor or realize you have made a mistake.

For teachers: feeling or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance. Often used predicatively to describe a state of mind following a significant achievement or a profound realization of one's limitations.

## Examples

- I feel humbled by your kind words.
- The champion athlete said she felt humbled to receive such a prestigious award from her childhood hero.
- Standing before the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon, the travelers felt humbled by the sheer scale of the natural world compared to their own brief lives.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was humble by the news" but "He was humbled by the news" — Learners often use the base adjective 'humble' when they should use the participial form 'humbled' to describe the result of an event.

## Usage notes

- Participial adjective; typically follows linking verbs like 'feel', 'be', or 'remain'.

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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.