modest Hear it!

modest Definition

mod·est (mäd′ist)

adjective

  1. having or showing a moderate opinion of one's own value, abilities, achievements, etc.; not vain or boastful; unassuming
  2. not forward; shy or reserved modest behavior
  3. behaving, dressing, speaking, etc. in a way that is considered proper or decorous; decent
  4. moderate or reasonable; not extreme a modest request
  5. quiet and humble in appearance, style, etc.; not pretentious a modest home

Etymology: Fr modeste < L modestus, keeping due measure, modest < modus: see mode

modest Related Forms
mod′·estly adverb
modest Synonyms

modest

modif.

  1. Humble

    unassuming, meek, diffident, shy; see humble 1, resigned.

  2. Not showy

    unpretentious, unostentatious, unobtrusive, demure, quiet, seemly, proper, decorous, unstudied, plain, simple, natural, unassuming, humble, unornamented, tasteful, unadorned, unembellished, unvarnished, unaffected, homely, taking a back seat*, hiding one's face*; see also dignified, reserved 3.

    Antonyms immodest*, ostentatious, pretentious.

  3. Moderate

    reasonable, inexpensive, average; see cheap 1, economical 2, moderate 1.

  4. Proper

    decent, proper, chaste, seemly; see decent 2, innocent 4, prudish.

  5. Lowly

    plain, simple, unaffected; see humble 2. See syn. study at chaste, shy.

modest Usage Examples

Preposition: in

  • comparison: The brasses of the plague years are modest in comparison with earlier brasses, tho those commemorated were not of lower social status.
  • scale: These should be of architectural or historical interest however modest in scale.
  • size: Modest in size, it is the ideal summerhouse for town locations where garden space is always at a premium.
  • term: Certainly, Jesus ' upbringing was modest in terms of worldly wealth and influence, and he had no advantage in that respect.

Infinitive complement

  • mention: Strange to say, such comforts were open to men, but women were too modest to mention such a need.

Modifies a noun

  • outlay: For a modest outlay, walkers can then have the most up-to-date guide to the fells.
  • beginning: From quite modest beginnings, the Society has gone from strength to strength.
  • sum: Surely a modest sum for the key players is in order?
  • fee: There is a modest entrance fee to the center.
  • ambition: The modest ambition of this series is to explore such diversities.
  • income: High open market house prices are often out of reach for local people on relatively modest incomes.

Modifying Another Word

  • relatively: The dives I made were relatively modest to just short of 20m with the second morning dive only 10m, maximum.
  • comparatively: The primary concern at the meeting was the comparatively modest number of Parties that have ratified the Joint Convention.
  • fairly: Despite of its fairly modest size at present, the signs are there that suggest a positive future for the club.
  • surprisingly: These wines are also available for surprisingly modest prices in the United Kingdom through London fine wine merchants, The Wine Treasury.
  • rather: Paying rather modest awards in two even more modest stages was never going to be well received.
  • remarkably: Indeed, the office for the CEO is remarkably modest for such a role.

Used with adjective complement

  • seem: Next to that vision, the Samba weekend of this year's Festival seems rather modest.
  • remain: In the second quarter, eurozone growth remained modest at 0.5 per cent.
  • appear: To a new member of the club in the late 1980s the expeditions could appear modest to say the least.
modest Quotes

Modest? My word, no† He was an all-the-lights-on man.

—Reed, Henry