nobler
ˈnō-b(ə-)lər 
; noblest
ˈnō-b(ə-)ləst
; noblest
ˈnō-b(ə-)ləst
1
a
: possessing outstanding qualities : illustrious
was a noble king
2
: of high birth or exalted rank : aristocratic
… my sire is of a noble line …—
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridgenoble families
3
a
: possessing very high or excellent qualities or properties
noble wine
b
: very good or excellent
See that there be a noble supper provided …—R. B. Sheridan
R. B. Sheridan4
: grand or impressive especially in appearance
noble edifice
a noble cathedral
5
: possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character or of ideals or morals : lofty
a noble ambition
a noble cause
6
: chemically inert or inactive especially toward oxygen
a noble metal such as platinum
compare base entry 3 sense 2a
1
: a person of noble rank or birth
2
: an old English gold coin equivalent to 6 shillings and 8 pence
Examples of noble in a Sentence
Adjective
He was a man of noble character.
It was noble of her to come forward with this information.
Noun
an elite school for children of nobles
Recent Examples on the Web
Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
All the iconography and romanticism around the patriots’ noble cause can mask the contradictions of the era.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025
Or Florian Geyer, a noble who also led peasant armies and was finally knifed by an assassin.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for noble
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Adjective
The noble notion of authorship itself.
—Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025
All the iconography and romanticism around the patriots’ noble cause can mask the contradictions of the era.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Caesar is a conspiracy of nobles; the removal of hundreds of (alleged) Venezuelan gang members is the action of ICE.
—JSTOR Daily, 23 Oct. 2025
Or Florian Geyer, a noble who also led peasant armies and was finally knifed by an assassin.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for noble
Cite this Entry
“Noble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/noble. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
noble
1 of 2 adjective
no·ble
ˈnō-bəl
nobler
-b(ə-)lər
; noblest
-b(ə-)ləst
; noblest
-b(ə-)ləst
2
: of high birth or rank : aristocratic
3
: possessing very high qualities : excellent
4
: grand especially in appearance : imposing
a noble cathedral
5
: having or characterized by superiority of mind or character : magnanimous
a noble nature
6
: chemically inactive especially toward oxygen
noble metal
noble
2 of 2 noun
: a person of noble rank or birth
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