unassuming
adjective
un·as·sum·ing
ˌən-ə-ˈsü-miŋ 
: not assuming : modest
an unassuming librarian
an unassuming manner
an unassuming neighborhood
unassumingness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of unassuming in a Sentence
He's just an unassuming guy.
They lived in an unassuming home.
Recent Examples on the Web
The death of a Los Angeles handyman took a twisted turn when authorities discovered the man who had been living a quiet, unassuming life was actually wanted in connection with the rape of a child in the Seattle area more than a decade ago.
—
Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The life: Avon High mascot Big O goes nationwide
In February, Dana Hunsinger Benbow and Mykal McEldowney told the story of Owen Carr — Avon High School's humble, unassuming mascot who is blind in one eye and nearly deaf in the opposite ear.
—Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Mar. 2024
The unassuming Mobil station sits at a corner of suburbia marked Park Street NE and Maple Avenue East.
—Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
The MiMo Caracas is a busy, bustling sit-down breakfast and lunch spot, tucked away in an unassuming strip mall next to a Doggi’s Arepa Bar.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024
Pulling back a large, unassuming curtain, a jazz trio was in the midst of a whirlwind jam, the cozy room reminiscent of a Chicago back-alley joint.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024
But new research has revealed that this unassuming plaza dates back nearly five millennia, to an era that far preceded the Inca and their predecessors, like the Wari and Chimú cultures.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024
The cafe is small, unassuming yet full of a certain kind of confidence.
—Lisa Donovan, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024
There is real joy in how this man lives perpetually in the moment, embracing the small, unassuming pleasures of the present.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2024
Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
The life: Avon High mascot Big O goes nationwide
In February, Dana Hunsinger Benbow and Mykal McEldowney told the story of Owen Carr — Avon High School's humble, unassuming mascot who is blind in one eye and nearly deaf in the opposite ear.
—Joe Mutascio, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Mar. 2024
The unassuming Mobil station sits at a corner of suburbia marked Park Street NE and Maple Avenue East.
—Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024
The MiMo Caracas is a busy, bustling sit-down breakfast and lunch spot, tucked away in an unassuming strip mall next to a Doggi’s Arepa Bar.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024
Pulling back a large, unassuming curtain, a jazz trio was in the midst of a whirlwind jam, the cozy room reminiscent of a Chicago back-alley joint.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024
But new research has revealed that this unassuming plaza dates back nearly five millennia, to an era that far preceded the Inca and their predecessors, like the Wari and Chimú cultures.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024
The cafe is small, unassuming yet full of a certain kind of confidence.
—Lisa Donovan, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2024
There is real joy in how this man lives perpetually in the moment, embracing the small, unassuming pleasures of the present.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unassuming.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1722, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near unassuming
Cite this Entry
“Unassuming.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unassuming. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
unassuming
adjective
un·as·sum·ing
ˌən-ə-ˈsü-miŋ
: not pretentious : modest
an unassuming manner
an unassuming neighborhood
unassumingly
adverb
More from Merriam-Webster on unassuming
Nglish: Translation of unassuming for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of unassuming for Arabic Speakers
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