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be modest
/biː ˈmɒdɪst/
not boastful or arrogant
She was always modest about her achievements.
She never bragged about what she had accomplished.
informal
to avoid boasting or showing excessive pride in one's abilities or possessions
Despite winning the award, he remained modest and thanked his team.
He didn't brag about his victory but instead credited his colleagues.
Modesty is a virtue that many admire in leaders.
People respect leaders who don't boast about their accomplishments.
Modesty is often seen as a positive trait in many cultures.
Collocations
be too modestto downplay one's achievements excessivelyfalse modestypretending to be humble when one is actually proud
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Cultural Differences
The concept of modesty varies across cultures. In some societies, modesty is highly valued, while in others, self-promotion is more accepted.
Gold Rule
Balance
Modesty is about balance—acknowledge your achievements without bragging.
Word Origin
From Old French 'modeste,' from Latin 'modestus,' meaning 'moderate, restrained.'
Usage Notes
Being modest is often valued in social and professional settings, but excessive modesty can sometimes be seen as insincere.
Word Breakdown
be
to exist or act in a certain way
verbmodest
not boastful or arrogant
adjectiveEnglish Dictionary