B2adjective2K

Modest

UK /["/ˈmɒdɪst/"]/US /["/ˈmɑːdɪst/"]/

Definition

not very large, expensive, important, etc.

In simple words: Not bragging or showing off; humble.

Examples

  • She is very modest about her achievements and rarely talks about them.
  • Their modest house was simple but comfortable.
  • He wore a modest suit suitable for the formal occasion.
  • Despite his wealth, he leads a modest lifestyle.
  • The company made a modest profit this quarter, showing steady growth.
  • Her modest request was to have just a small celebration with close friends.

Usage notes

Used to describe a person's behavior or achievements positively. More appropriate in formal contexts; avoid in casual conversations that emphasize extravagance.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a small, modest home — simple but enough.

Collocations

  • be
  • seem
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • in
  • be
  • look
  • remain
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • about

Synonyms

  • demure

Antonyms

  • arrogant
  • boastful
  • ostentatious

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'modesty' — 'modest' is the adjective, while 'modesty' is the noun.
  • Using 'modest' to describe someone overly confident — it means the opposite.
  • Misunderstanding the intensity; often overused to describe something significantly below average when it can mean just 'not excessive'.