modest
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
How often you will meet it
Rank 2,906 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 5,666 times across 175,160 chapters — 0.003% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself a modest apartmenttoo modest to wear his medals
- not large but sufficient in size or amount also: small a modest salarymodest inflation
- free from pomp or affectation comfortable but modest cottagesa simple rectangular brick building
- not offensive to sexual mores in conduct or appearance a modest neckline in her dress covered her up to her collarbone
- low or inferior in station or quality also: humble, low, lowly, small a humble cottagea lowly parish priest
- humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness also: meek, mild meek and self-effacing
modest in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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She worked hard to attain this modest end and was quite satisfied.
Emily Fox-Seton · Frances Hodgson Burnett · Chapter 1
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Because, whilst the present sufficed to her modest ambition, the future had ceased to cause her any uneasiness.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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Mary Taylor, twenty-three, modest, sweet, winning, and in character and person beautiful, was all in all to him.
Following the Equator — Part 1 · Mark Twain · Chapter 1
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He was a silent, modest man, who never spoke much of what he knew, or of himself in any wise.
Christian's Mistake · Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · Chapter 1
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These brushes did their work so well, that in less than a moment every fly had resumed his modest livery.
Piccolissima · Adélaïde de Montgolfier · Chapter 1