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'.