adjective Uncommon

humbled

Humbled (adjective) means Made to feel less important or proud, often after a defeat or setback. Example: “The champion was humbled by a surprise loss in the first round.”

adjective

Made to feel less important or proud, often after a defeat or setback.

"The champion was humbled by a surprise loss in the first round."

"He felt humbled after realizing how much he still had to learn."

Deeply grateful and moved, often said in response to praise or support.

"I'm truly humbled by all the kind messages I've received."

"She said she felt humbled to receive the award."

How to use humbled

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither brought down a notch by a setback, or genuinely moved and grateful for recognition.

Common mistake

In award speeches, "humbled" is often used loosely to mean simply "grateful" rather than literally "made humble."

Word forms

more humbled comparative, most humbled superlative

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The champion was _____ by a surprise loss in the first round.

Rhymes for humbled

jumbled

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Frequently asked questions

What does “humbled” mean?

The word “humbled” means made to feel less important or proud, often after a defeat or setback. In plain terms, either brought down a notch by a setback, or genuinely moved and grateful for recognition.

How do you use “humbled” in a sentence?

Here is “humbled” used in a sentence: “The champion was humbled by a surprise loss in the first round.”

What part of speech is “humbled”?

“Humbled” is an adjective.

Is “humbled” a common word?

“Humbled” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “humbled” have?

“Humbled” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made to feel less important or proud, often after a defeat or setback.