modest
mod·est (mäd′ist)
adjective
- having or showing a moderate opinion of one's own value, abilities, achievements, etc.; not vain or boastful; unassuming
- not forward; shy or reserved modest behavior
- behaving, dressing, speaking, etc. in a way that is considered proper or decorous; decent
- moderate or reasonable; not extreme a modest request
- 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
modif.
Humble
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. Moderate
reasonable, inexpensive, average; see cheap 1, economical 2, moderate 1.Proper
decent, proper, chaste, seemly; see decent 2, innocent 4, prudish.Lowly
plain, simple, unaffected; see humble 2. See syn. study at chaste, shy.
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
Modest? My word, no He was an all-the-lights-on man.
Browse dictionary entries near modest
- modernize
- modernity
- modernistic
- modernist
- modernism
- Modern Latin
- Modern Hebrew
- Modern Greek
- Modern English
- modern dance
