humbleness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, literary
Quick answer
What does “humbleness” mean?
The quality or state of being humble.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The quality or state of being humble; a modest or low view of one's own importance.
Can also refer to an unassuming, unpretentious manner or to a condition of lowly status or rank.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major usage differences; both prefer 'humility' in most contexts.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/archaic in both varieties compared to 'humility'.
Frequency
Low frequency in both; 'humility' is far more common.
Grammar
How to Use “humbleness” in a Sentence
[person] + verb (show, demonstrate, possess) + humblenesshumbleness + of + [person/act]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “humbleness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was humbled by the experience.
- They sought to humble their rivals.
American English
- The loss humbled the team.
- She humbled herself before the committee.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in leadership literature praising 'servant leadership' or in performance reviews ('He leads with genuine humbleness').
Academic
Found in philosophical, religious, or literary studies discussing virtue ethics or character analysis.
Everyday
Very rare in spoken English. 'Humility' is the standard term.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “humbleness”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “humbleness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “humbleness”
- Using 'humbleness' in casual speech instead of 'humility'.
- Misspelling as 'humbelness'.
- Confusing it with 'humiliation'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Humility' is the far more common and preferred term in modern usage for the virtue of being modest. 'Humbleness' is a valid synonym but is less frequent and can sound slightly old-fashioned or literary.
Rarely. It is almost always positive, describing a virtuous lack of pride. In some contexts, it might imply excessive self-abasement, but 'meekness' or 'servility' would be clearer for negative connotations.
Yes. 'Humbleness' is the deverbal noun formed from the adjective 'humble'. The action of making someone humble is 'humiliation' or 'humbling'.
In most cases, use 'humility'. 'Humbleness' might be chosen in poetic, religious, or very formal writing for stylistic variation, but it carries the same core meaning.
The quality or state of being humble.
Humbleness is usually formal, literary in register.
Humbleness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌm.bl̩.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌm.bəl.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “In all humbleness (formal preface to a statement)”
- “A badge of humbleness (metaphorical)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HUMBLE-NESS. The 'NESS' turns the adjective 'humble' into the noun for the quality.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMBLENESS IS BEING LOW/SMALL (e.g., 'He kept a low profile', 'She didn't put herself on a pedestal').
Practice
Quiz
Which word is a NEAR SYNONYM for 'humbleness' and is more commonly used in modern English?