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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

modest

/ˈmɑdəst/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does modest mean?

adjective

  1. Not bragging or boasting about oneself or one's achievements; unpretentious, humble.
  2. Small, moderate in size.
  3. Pure and delicate from a sense of propriety.
More meanings (1)

adjective

  1. Intending to avoid the encouraging of sexual attraction in others.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈmɑdəst/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

She tries to be modest when she complains to the postmaster that her New York paper is more than three days late.
Willa CatherThe Song of the LarkProject Gutenberg ebook #44
Good gentle one, give me modest assurance, if you be the lady of the house, that I may proceed in my speech.
William ShakespeareThe Complete Works of William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg ebook #100
More book examples (3)
We found the girl sweeping the corridor outside the bedrooms, pale and composed, and neat as ever in her modest print dress.
Wilkie CollinsThe MoonstoneProject Gutenberg ebook #155
He has told the story of his life in that modest and unassuming manner which is so characteristic of the man himself.
Samuel SmilesSelf Help; with Illustrations of Conduct and PerseveranceProject Gutenberg ebook #935
During this time he had been obliged to pinch himself in a thousand ways in order to eke out his modest allowance.
John MunroHeroes of the TelegraphProject Gutenberg ebook #979