modest
gb/mˈɑdɪst/ us/mˈɑdɪst/
B1
English
~ 3700
szerény, mérsékelt, visszafogott, szemérmes
B1
1
szerény
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] is modest about [something]
She is modest about her many accomplishments.
Szerényen beszél a sok eredményéről.
Despite his success, he remains modest and approachable.
Sikerei ellenére továbbra is szerény és közvetlen.
He gave a modest response when praised for his work.
Learner examples
She is modest about her work.
Szerényen beszél a munkájáról.
He is a modest man.
Szerény ember.
My friend is modest when people say she is smart.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'modest' with 'moderate' because both can imply 'not too much', but 'modest' in this sense is about personality, not quantity.
Meaning
Not boastful or proud
Collocations
modest personality
|modest attitude
|modest demeanor
|modest claim
Synonyms
humble (Suggests a sincere lack of pride or arrogance, often with a moral quality.)
Antonyms
boastful (Describes someone who talks with pride about themselves in a way that can seem arrogant.)
Themes
personality
|social behavior
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Not talking about your good things or showing that you are better than others.
Not talking much about your own abilities, achievements, or possessions; showing humility.
B1
2
Usage pattern:
a modest [amount/sum/increase/home]
They live in a modest two-bedroom house.
Egy szerény, két hálószobás házban élnek.
The company reported a modest increase in profits.
A vállalat a nyereség mérsékelt növekedéséről számolt be.
He earns a modest salary but is happy with his job.
Learner examples
They have a modest house.
Szerény házuk van.
I paid a modest price for the car.
Mérsékelt árat fizettem az autóért.
We saw a modest rise in sales.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'modest' here means 'old-fashioned', but it refers to size or amount.
Meaning
Small or limited in size or amount
Collocations
modest increase
|modest sum
|modest home
|modest salary
Synonyms
moderate (Implies average or reasonable size/amount, often used in similar contexts.)
Antonyms
substantial (Indicates a large or considerable size or amount.)
Themes
size
|quantity
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Small in size, amount, or cost.
Relatively small in size, amount, or degree; not large, extreme, or expensive.
B1
3
visszafogott
B2
szemérmes
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] dresses in a modest way
She prefers to wear modest clothing for cultural reasons.
Kulturális okokból inkább visszafogott ruhákat visel.
The school has a modest dress code.
Az iskolában visszafogott öltözködést előíró szabályzat van.
He admired her modest style.
Learner examples
She wears modest clothes at work.
Visszafogott ruhákat visel a munkahelyén.
The school wants students to dress modestly.
Az iskola azt szeretné, hogy a diákok visszafogottan öltözzenek.
Her dress is modest and simple.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'modest' here with 'simple' in style; while often related, the focus is on covering the body rather than design complexity.
Meaning
Not sexually revealing or provocative
Collocations
modest dress
|modest clothing
|modest fashion
Synonyms
conservative (In dress, suggests covering more of the body and avoiding revealing styles.)
Antonyms
revealing (Describes clothing that shows parts of the body usually kept covered.)
Themes
appearance
|social behavior
|clothing
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Wearing clothes that cover the body and are not sexy.
Wearing clothes or behaving in a way that does not attract sexual attention; covering the body appropriately according to social norms.
Grammar
Dictionary form
modest
IPA
GB/mˈɑdɪst/
US/mˈɑdɪst/
Syllables & stress
mod - est (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mod)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: modest
Word family
Core family
modesty
noun B2
modestly
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
immodest
adjective
immodesty
noun
immodestly
adverb
Expressions
in a modest way
1/ˈɪn ə mˈɑdɪst wˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
Without showing off or excess
In a simple and humble manner, without too much display.
Examples
- They celebrated their anniversary in a modest way.
- He lives in a modest way despite his wealth.
to be modest about something
1/tə bˈi mˈɑdɪst əbˈaʊt sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Avoid boasting about something
To talk about what you did or have without showing pride or arrogance.
Examples
- She was modest about her role in the project.
- He is always modest about his success.