“Demure” is Dictionary.com’s Word of the Year. Taking the definition right from Dictionary.com, demure is “characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved.” But thanks to TikTok influencer Jools Lebron, the word means so much more since she started using it in her viral videos. These videos blew up because everyone was able to give their own take on being demure and mindful—after Lebron explained being “demure” in the workplace, going for an interview, or doing your makeup/hair in a certain way. Dictionary.com noted that the site saw a 1.2K% increase in “demure” usage on the web and had 200 times more searches online after it went viral in August. Now, it’s joining “brat” and “manifest” in 2024’s word of the year winners that are all being driven by Gen Z. (TODAY)
