modest

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modest [adjective] (QUITELY SUCCESSFUL)

Not usually talking about or making obvious your own abilities and achievements

US /ˈmɑː.dɪst/ 
UK /ˈmɒd.ɪst/ 
Example: 

He's very modest about his achievements

Oxford Essential Dictionary

modest

 adjective
not talking much about good things that you have done or about things that you can do well:
You didn't tell me you could sing so well – you're very modest!

>> modestly adverb:
He spoke quietly and modestly about his success.

>> modesty noun (no plural):
She accepted the prize with her usual modesty.

 

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

modest

modest /ˈmɒdəst, ˈmɒdɪst $ ˈmɑː-/ BrE AmE adjective
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: modestus]
1. NOT PROUD someone who is modest does not want to talk about their abilities or achievements OPP immodest, boastful
modest about
He was always modest about his role in the Everest expedition.
You’re too modest! You’ve been a huge help to us.
2. NOT BIG not very great, big, or expensive:
a modest increase in costs
She had saved a modest amount of money.
The new service proved a modest success.
a modest house with a small garden
his modest ambitions
3. SHY shy about showing your body or attracting sexual interest, because you are easily embarrassed OPP immodest:
She was a modest girl, always keeping covered, even in summer.
4. CLOTHES old-fashioned modest clothing covers the body in a way that does not attract sexual interest:
a modest knee-length dress
—modestly adverb:
‘I was just lucky,’ he said modestly.
modestly priced meals
• • •
THESAURUS
modest not wanting to talk about your abilities or achievements and to say that you are good at something, even when you are – used to show approval: Miller, a quiet, modest man, gave credit to Asher for the initial discovery. | She was surprisingly modest about her own achievements as a player.
self-effacing written not wanting to talk about yourself or to attract attention: Her husband was a quiet, self-effacing man who spent much of his time in his study.
unassuming not wanting to be noticed and not expecting to be treated in a special way: By now Chapman was famous, but he remained as unassuming as ever. | He then began, in typically unassuming fashion, to establish the first modern dance company.
humble believing that you are not more important, better, or cleverer than other people, and therefore not expecting to be treated in a special way: A good leader is humble enough to get advice from experts.
unpretentious not trying to seem better than other people, even if you are rich, famous, clever etc: President Eisenhower was a friendly and unpretentious man who seemed to embody American virtues. | It's his unpretentious boyish charm that ensures Jackie Chan's position as one of the giants of international cinema.
self-deprecating written behaving or talking about your own abilities or achievements in a way that makes them seem unimportant: Despite his intellect, he had an appealing self-deprecating humour. | The nice thing about him is his self-deprecating manner. His intellectual ability was never pushed at you, yet he obviously had great potential. | a self-deprecating smile

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

modest

mod·est   [ˈmɒdɪst]    [ˈmɑːdɪst]  adjective
1. not very large, expensive, important, etc
modest improvements/reforms
He charged a relatively modest fee.
• a modest little house

• The research was carried out on a modest scale.

2. (approving) not talking much about your own abilities or possessions
She's very modest about her success.
• You're too modest!

Opp:  immodest

3. (of people, especially women, or their clothes) shy about showing much of the body; not intended to attract attention, especially in a sexual way
Syn:  demure
a modest dress
Opp:  immodest
Derived Word: modestly  
Word Origin:
mid 16th cent.: from French modeste, from Latin modestus ‘keeping due measure’, related to modus ‘measure’.  
Thesaurus:
modest [modest modestly] adj. (approving)
She's very modest about her success.
humbleunassumingunpretentious
Opp: vain, Opp: boastful
a/an modest/humble/unassuming/unpretentious person/man/woman
in a/an modest/humble/unassuming way  
Example Bank:
He is looking to improve on his relatively modest achievements so far.
He is modest about his achievements.
Our requirements seem fairly modest.
She would be falsely modest not to acknowledge that she had come a very long way since those early days.
The new homes are modest in scale, but very comfortable.
Don't be so modest! You're a very talented player.
He was a quiet, modest man.
She grew up in a modest little house in the suburbs.
She's very modest about her success.
The FTSE staged a modest recovery to be 6.5 points down.
There has been a modest improvement in the situation.
They live in modest comfort.
a modest aim/achievement/ambition/goal/success
a modest contribution/expenditure/fee/gain/investment/outlay/profit/sum
a modest house/flat/villa
• a modest size/amount/quantity/scale/share/proportion

• modest premises

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

modest / ˈmɒd.ɪst /   / ˈmɑː.dɪst / adjective approving (QUIETLY SUCCESSFUL)

C1 not usually talking about or making obvious your own abilities and achievements:

He's very modest about his achievements.

 

modestly / -li / adverb

C1

At just £9, the DVD is very modestly priced .

She was dressed modestly.

 

modest / ˈmɒd.ɪst /   / ˈmɑː.dɪst / adjective (NOT LARGE)

B2 not large in size or amount, or not expensive:

They live in a fairly modest house, considering their wealth.

There has been a modest improvement/recovery in housing conditions for the poor.

The party made modest gains in the elections, but nothing like the huge gains that were predicted.

Just a modest portion for me, please.

 

modestly / -li / adverb

C1

At just £9, the DVD is very modestly priced .

She was dressed modestly.
 

modest / ˈmɒd.ɪst /   / ˈmɑː.dɪst / adjective old-fashioned (CLOTHES/BEHAVIOUR)

describes something, such as a woman's clothes or behaviour, that is intended to avoid attracting sexual interest:

a modest walk/manner

 

modestly / -li / adverb

C1

At just £9, the DVD is very modestly priced .

She was dressed modestly.
 

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

modest

[mɒ̱dɪst]
 ♦♦♦
 1) ADJ-GRADED A modest house or other building is not large or expensive.
  ...the modest home of a family who lived off the land...
  A one-night stay in a modest hotel costs around ₤35.
  Syn:
  unassuming
 2) ADJ-GRADED You use modest to describe something such as an amount, rate, or improvement which is fairly small.
  Swiss unemployment rose to the still modest rate of 0.7%...
  The democratic reforms have been modest and they've occurred in only a few countries...
  You don't get rich, but you can get a modest living out of it.
  Derived words:
  modestly ADV-GRADED ADV after v, ADV adj/-ed/adv Britain's balance of payments improved modestly last month.
 3) ADJ-GRADED (approval) If you say that someone is modest, you approve of them because they do not talk much about their abilities or achievements.
  He's modest, as well as being a great player...
  Lord Carrington is modest about his achievements.
  Syn:
  unassuming
  Ant:
  arrogant
  Derived words:
  modestly ADV-GRADED ADV with v `You really must be very good at what you do.' - `I suppose I am,' Kate said modestly.
 4) ADJ-GRADED You can describe a woman as modest when she avoids doing or wearing anything that might cause men to have sexual feelings towards her. You can also describe her clothes or behaviour as modest.
  Asian women are more modest and shy, yet they tend to have an inner force...
  Respect the local etiquete. Modest clothing is often preferable to revealing shorts and tight-fitting tops.
  Derived words:
  modestly ADV-GRADED ADV with v, ADV adj/adv She sat down cautiously on the red canvas cushions, knees modestly together.

 

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

modest

mod·est /ˈmɑːdəst/ adj [more ~; most ~]
1 : not very large in size or amount
• Despite its modest [=somewhat small] size, the city has many things to offer tourists.
• They own a modest home near the beach.
• She enjoyed modest success with her singing career.
• He earns a modest income.
• We live on a modest budget.
• New cars are now available at relatively modest prices.
• He has only a modest amount of knowledge on the subject.
• It is a book of only modest importance.
2 approving : not too proud or confident about yourself or your abilities : not showing or feeling great or excessive pride
• She's very modest about her achievements.
• Don't be so modest. Your performance was wonderful!
• “I'm not a hero. I was just doing my job,” he said in his characteristically modest way.
• He is unusually modest for a man who is so famous and successful.
- opposite immodest
3 a of clothing : not showing too much of a person's body
• She preferred wearing more modest swimsuits.
• In some countries, women must wear very modest clothing in public.
b : shy about showing your body especially in a sexual way : preferring to wear modest clothing
• a modest young woman
- opposite immodest
- mod·est·ly adv
• Our business has been modestly successful.
• a modestly priced car
• a modestly dressed young woman
• She modestly refused to accept credit for the team's success.