The humility meaning is the quality of not seeing yourself as more important than other people, of being honest about your limits, and of being willing to learn and to admit mistakes. A top student who still asks classmates for help with problems they understand better is showing humility.
The adjective is humble, which also works as a verb. Humility is valued in workplaces, families and most religious traditions, and the Bible gives it a central place. Nor is it low self-esteem: a humble person can be confident and still keep an accurate, modest view of themselves.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
A modest, honest view of your own importancePart of speech
Noun; humble: adjective and verbPronunciation
hyoo-MIL-ih-tee; humble: HUM-buhlWord forms
humble, humbler, humblest, humbly, humbled, humblingOrigin
Latin humilitas, from humilis, "low", related to humus, "earth"; English from the 1300sOpposite
arrogance, pride, conceit, vanityRegister
Neutral; common in moral and religious writing
Humble meaning: three uses of one word
Humility is the noun, and humble carries most of the everyday meaning. The definition of humble covers three main uses:
- Modest about yourself (adjective): "She stayed humble after winning the award."
- Low in rank, simple or poor (adjective): "He grew up in a humble village home." The phrase humble beginnings belongs here.
- To lower someone's pride (verb): "The defeat humbled the confident team." People also say "I am humbled" to mean they feel honoured and grateful.
A related informal word, humblebrag, means a boast disguised as modesty, as in complaining about how tiring it is to be asked to speak at so many events.
Where humility comes from
Humility has been in English since the early 1300s. It arrived by way of Old French, and its source is the Latin humilitas. That word comes from humilis, "low, lowly", which is linked to humus, "earth, ground". So the picture behind the word is of someone who stays close to the ground rather than raising themselves up. Christian Latin gave it the strong sense of a virtue, meekness before God. Today the humility meaning in English is wider than the religious one and covers ordinary modesty at work and at home.
Humility meaning in the Bible
Scripture presents humility as a right view of oneself before God and other people: depending on God, rejecting pride, and serving others. The Hebrew Scriptures use the word anavah and related terms, and the New Testament uses the Greek tapeinophrosyne, "lowliness of mind". Some passages often cited:
- Micah 6:8 sets walking humbly with God alongside acting justly and loving mercy.
- Proverbs 11:2 contrasts pride, which leads to disgrace, with humility, which goes with wisdom.
- Numbers 12:3 describes Moses as an exceptionally humble man.
- Philippians 2:3 urges readers to value others above themselves and act without selfish ambition.
- James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5 both echo Proverbs 3:34, setting divine resistance to the arrogant against favour shown to the lowly.
When people ask what humble means in the Bible, these themes come up: honesty about one's limits, openness to correction and a readiness to serve. Other faiths prize similar qualities, for example the idea of modesty and lowering one's ego found in Islamic, Jewish and Buddhist teaching. Related religious vocabulary is gathered on the spiritual words hub, with entries such as grace and meek.
Using the words in sentences
- The new manager's humility won the team over in her first week.
- He thanked the volunteers humbly and gave them the credit.
- Losing the final was a humbling experience for the young players.
- Despite her fame as a chef, she runs a humble little kitchen near the station.
- It takes humility to say, "I was wrong, and you were right."
Opposite of humble, and words nearby
| Word | Relation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Modest | Close | Not boasting about your abilities |
| Meek | Close but weaker | Quiet and gentle, sometimes too ready to give in |
| Arrogant | Opposite | Acting superior to others |
| Proud | Opposite (in one sense) | An inflated view of your own worth |
| Hubris | Opposite | Extreme, dangerous pride |
| Conceited | Opposite | Vain about your looks or talents |
Note that pride is not always bad. Being proud of your child's progress is healthy. Humility pushes against the kind of pride that looks down on others.
A common confusion
Humility does not mean thinking badly of yourself. Putting yourself down all the time is closer to low self-esteem, and false modesty can even be a hidden way of seeking praise. Real humility is accurate: you know your strengths and your gaps, and you treat other people's views as worth hearing. A frequent phrase is intellectual humility, the readiness to accept that your beliefs could be mistaken.
Also take care with humiliate. It shares the same root but means to shame someone, which is very different from helping them grow humble.
Frequently asked questions
How would you explain humble to a child?
To define humble simply: seeing yourself as no more important than anyone else. It can also describe something simple or modest, like a humble house.
What does humility mean in the Bible?
Across its books, the Bible treats humility as recognizing your dependence on God, turning away from pride and serving others. Passages such as Micah 6:8 and Philippians 2:3 are often quoted on this theme.
What is the opposite of humble?
The most common opposites are arrogant, proud, conceited and boastful. For the sense of humble beginnings, the opposite would be grand or privileged.
Is humility a weakness?
No. Many leaders and teachers treat it as a strength, because humble people listen, learn and admit mistakes. It is different from being timid.
What is the definition of humility in one line?
To define humility briefly: it is a modest and honest view of your own importance, joined with respect for others.
What does humble mean in the Bible?
Biblical writers call people humble when they are lowly in status or when they rely on God instead of their own strength. The word often comes with a promise that the humble will be lifted up.
What does I am humbled mean?
People say "I am humbled" when they receive praise or an honour and want to show gratitude without boasting. In an older sense, being humbled means having your pride brought down by a setback.