adjective

demure

dih-MYOOR

Demure (adjective) means Quiet, modest, and reserved in manner. Example: “She gave a demure smile and looked away.”

adjective

Quiet, modest, and reserved in manner.

"She gave a demure smile and looked away."

"His demure response surprised everyone expecting a bold comeback."

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 notes

In plain EnglishBehaving in a shy, modest, and understated way.

Common pairings

demure smile demure and mindful demure manner

demurer comparative, demured past tense, demures singular, demurest superlative

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She gave a _____ smile and looked away.

From Anglo-Norman de mure port, "with a mature bearing," related to Old French meur (mature), from Latin mātūrus.

Origin: Latin

pure cure sure azure nature future manure secure impure injure figure allure

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.

Vocabulary lists that include demure: