modest
gb/mˈɑdɪst/ us/mˈɑdɪst/
B1
Anglais
~ 3700
Sens
0 sens
adjective
B1
property
1
Not boastful or proud
Not talking about your good things or showing that you are better than others.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] is modest about [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'modest' with 'moderate' because both can imply 'not too much', but 'modest' in this sense is about personality, not quantity.
Synonymes
humble (Suggests a sincere lack of pride or arrogance, often with a moral quality.)
Antonymes
boastful (Describes someone who talks with pride about themselves in a way that can seem arrogant.)
Collocations
modest personality
|modest attitude
|modest demeanor
|modest claim
Thèmes
personality
|social behavior
|emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She is modest about her many accomplishments.
- Despite his success, he remains modest and approachable.
- He gave a modest response when praised for his work.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She is modest about her work.
- He is a modest man.
- My friend is modest when people say she is smart.
adjective
B1
property
2
Small or limited in size or amount
Small in size, amount, or cost.
Schéma d’usage :
a modest [amount/sum/increase/home]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes think 'modest' here means 'old-fashioned', but it refers to size or amount.
Synonymes
moderate (Implies average or reasonable size/amount, often used in similar contexts.)
Antonymes
substantial (Indicates a large or considerable size or amount.)
Collocations
modest increase
|modest sum
|modest home
|modest salary
Thèmes
size
|quantity
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- They live in a modest two-bedroom house.
- The company reported a modest increase in profits.
- He earns a modest salary but is happy with his job.
Exemples pédagogiques
- They have a modest house.
- I paid a modest price for the car.
- We saw a modest rise in sales.
adjective
B1
property
3
Not sexually revealing or provocative
Wearing clothes that cover the body and are not sexy.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] dresses in a modest way
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse 'modest' here with 'simple' in style; while often related, the focus is on covering the body rather than design complexity.
Synonymes
conservative (In dress, suggests covering more of the body and avoiding revealing styles.)
Antonymes
revealing (Describes clothing that shows parts of the body usually kept covered.)
Collocations
modest dress
|modest clothing
|modest fashion
Thèmes
appearance
|social behavior
|clothing
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- She prefers to wear modest clothing for cultural reasons.
- The school has a modest dress code.
- He admired her modest style.
Exemples pédagogiques
- She wears modest clothes at work.
- The school wants students to dress modestly.
- Her dress is modest and simple.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
modest
API
GB/mˈɑdɪst/
US/mˈɑdɪst/
Syllabes et accentuation
mod - est (2 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (mod)
Formes du mot
Adjective
- Base: modest
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- She was modest about her role in the project.
- He is always modest about his success.