[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/modesty/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [M](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/m/) / modesty

# modesty

noun (modesty — uncountable)

«modesty» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Not boasting about yourself or your skills, even when you are good. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#m1)
2. Dressing or behaving in a way that does not draw attention to your body, often for reasons of religion or custom. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#m2)
3. Being small or not much: the modesty of their home. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#m3)

### In the lessons

In PSHE and stories, modesty is a good quality: a modest winner says «the team did well». In religion lessons, many faiths teach modesty in clothes. Opposite: boastfulness, vanity, arrogance. Phrase: «false modesty» — pretending to be humble to get praise.

### Examples

- Despite her modesty, she was the best player. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#x1)
- «It was nothing,» he said with modesty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#x2)
- Toad had no modesty at all — he sang songs about himself. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#x3)
- Some people wear long clothes for modesty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#x4)
- His modesty made everyone like him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#x5)
- The prize-winner thanked her teachers with great modesty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#x6)
- False modesty is fishing for compliments. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#x7)
- However he received all the praises bestowed on him with becoming modesty, and prostrating himself, said: [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/#x8)

### Note

Uncountable. Adjective: modest (a modest girl; a modest house = a small, plain house). Not the same as shyness: a modest person may be confident but does not boast.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «modesty» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/modesty/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«modesty» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/modesty.html) on Mova free.