adjective
demure
dih-MYOOR
Demure (adjective) means Quiet, modest, and reserved in manner. Example: “She gave a demure smile and looked away.”
adjective
1
Quiet, modest, and reserved in manner.
"She gave a demure smile and looked away."
"His demure response surprised everyone expecting a bold comeback."
2
Putting on an exaggerated show of modesty or seriousness.
"His demure expression didn't fool anyone who knew him well."
How to use demure
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBehaving in a shy, modest, and understated way.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
demure smile
demure and mindful
demure manner
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- demures
- Past tense
- demured
- Comparative
- demurer
- Superlative
- demurest
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She gave a _____ smile and looked away.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman de mure port, "with a mature bearing," related to Old French meur (mature), from Latin mātūrus.
Synonyms
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coy
overmodest
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for demure
See all rhymes for demure →Frequently asked questions
What does “demure” mean?
The word “demure” means quiet, modest, and reserved in manner. In plain terms, behaving in a shy, modest, and understated way.
How do you pronounce “demure”?
“Demure” is pronounced dih-MYOOR (/dɪˈmjʊɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “demure” in a sentence?
Here is “demure” used in a sentence: “She gave a demure smile and looked away.”
What part of speech is “demure”?
“Demure” is an adjective.
Where does the word “demure” come from?
The word “demure” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman de mure port, "with a mature bearing," related to Old French meur (mature), from Latin mātūrus.
How many meanings does “demure” have?
“Demure” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: quiet, modest, and reserved in manner.
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