shy

1 of 5

adjective

ˈshī

shier or shyer ˈshī(-ə)r How to pronounce shy (audio)

; shiest or shyest ˈshī-əst How to pronounce shy (audio)

: easily frightened : timid

: disposed to avoid a person or thing

publicity shy

: hesitant in committing oneself : circumspect

: sensitively diffident or retiring : reserved

also : expressive of such a state or nature

a shy smile

: secluded, hidden

: having less than the full or specified amount or number : short

just shy of six feet tall

: disreputable

gambling hells and shy saloons

Blackwood's

shyly adverb

shyness noun

shy

2 of 5

verb (1)

shied; shying

intransitive verb

: to develop or show a dislike or distaste

—usually used with from or away from

an author who shies away from publicity

: to start suddenly aside through fright or alarm

shy

3 of 5

noun (1)

plural shies

: a sudden start aside (as from fright)

shy

4 of 5

verb (2)

shied; shying

intransitive verb

: to make a sudden throw

transitive verb

: to throw (an object) with a jerk : fling

shy

5 of 5

noun (2)

plural shies

: the act of shying : toss, throw

: a verbal fling or attack

: cockshy

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English schey, going back to Old English scēoh, going back to West Germanic *skeuh(w)a- (whence also Middle High German schiehe, schiech "timid, despondent," and, with alteration or variant ablaut, Middle Dutch scu, scouw "timid"), perhaps extended form of Indo-European *(s)keu̯(H)- "perceive, watch" — more at show entry 1

Verb (1)

derivative of shy entry 1

Noun (1)

derivative of shy entry 2

Verb (2)

of obscure origin

Noun (2)

derivative of shy entry 4

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1791, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1787, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈshī

shier or shyer; shiest or shyest

: not feeling comfortable meeting and talking to people

a shy awkward boy

: easily frightened : timid

a shy kitten

: showing a dislike of attention

a shy face

: tending to avoid something or someone

I'm camera shy. Don't take my picture.

: having less than a full or an expected amount or number

We were shy about ten dollars.

shy

2 of 2

verb

shied; shying

: to avoid or draw back in dislike or distaste

He shied from publicity.

: to move quickly to one side in fright

The horse shied at the thunder.

单词	shyly
释义	shy 1 of 5 adjective ˈshī shier or shyer ˈshī(-ə)r ; shiest or shyest ˈshī-əst 1 : easily frightened : timid 2 : disposed to avoid a person or thing publicity shy 3 : hesitant in committing oneself : circumspect 4 : sensitively diffident or retiring : reserved also : expressive of such a state or nature a shy smile 5 : secluded, hidden 6 : having less than the full or specified amount or number : short just shy of six feet tall 7 : disreputable gambling hells and shy saloons Blackwood's shyly adverb shyness noun shy 2 of 5 verb (1) shied; shying intransitive verb 1 : to develop or show a dislike or distaste —usually used with from or away from an author who shies away from publicity 2 : to start suddenly aside through fright or alarm shy 3 of 5 noun (1) plural shies : a sudden start aside (as from fright) shy 4 of 5 verb (2) shied; shying intransitive verb : to make a sudden throw transitive verb : to throw (an object) with a jerk : fling shy 5 of 5 noun (2) plural shies 1 : the act of shying : toss, throw 2 : a verbal fling or attack 3 : cockshy Synonyms Adjective fainthearted fearful fearsome mousy mousey scary skittish timid timorous tremulous See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective I was painfully shy as a teenager. She was too shy to ask for help. He gave her a shy smile. Help yourself if you want more. Don't be shy. Word History Etymology Adjective Middle English schey, going back to Old English scēoh, going back to West Germanic skeuh(w)a- (whence also Middle High German schiehe, schiech* "timid, despondent," and, with alteration or variant ablaut, Middle Dutch scu, scouw "timid"), perhaps extended form of Indo-European (s)keu̯(H)- "perceive, watch" — more at show entry 1 Verb (1) derivative of shy entry 1 Noun (1) derivative of shy entry 2 Verb (2) of obscure origin Noun (2) derivative of shy entry 4 First Known Use Adjective before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb (1) 1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (1) 1791, in the meaning defined above Verb (2) 1787, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense Noun (2) 1791, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing shy* once bitten, twice shy shy bladder shy (away) from work-shy coconut shy gun-shy shy bladder syndrome fight shy of once bitten, twice shy shy bladder shy (away) from work-shy coconut shy gun-shy shy bladder syndrome fight shy of See More Kids Definition shy 1 of 2 adjective ˈshī shier or shyer; shiest or shyest 1 : not feeling comfortable meeting and talking to people a shy awkward boy 2 : easily frightened : timid a shy kitten 3 : showing a dislike of attention a shy face 4 : tending to avoid something or someone I'm camera shy. Don't take my picture. 5 : having less than a full or an expected amount or number We were shy about ten dollars. shy 2 of 2 verb shied; shying 1 : to avoid or draw back in dislike or distaste He shied from publicity. 2 : to move quickly to one side in fright The horse shied at the thunder. Choose the Right Synonym for shy Adjective shy and bashful mean feeling awkward around others. shy is used of someone who doesn't want to meet or talk with people either by habit or for special reasons. New students are often shy. bashful is used of someone who is shy and afraid like a very young child. He was too bashful to ask for a dance. shyly adverb as in bashfully Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance bashfully timidly diffidently timorously politely fearfully self-deprecatingly courteously sheepishly obsequiously humbly meekly civilly subserviently servilely submissively deferentially mousily respectfully abjectly suppliantly lowly modestly hat in hand meanly Antonyms & Near Antonyms boldly proudly scornfully haughtily contemptuously loftily arrogantly brazenly imperiously superciliously huffily pompously audaciously brashly pridefully presumptuously pretentiously fearlessly swaggeringly saucily disdainfully impertinently recklessly self-importantly rudely impudently rashly ungraciously disrespectfully discourteously uppishly impolitely uncivilly bitchily See More
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shy

adjective

verb (1)

noun (1)

verb (2)

noun (2)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing shy

Kids Definition

adjective

verb

Choose the Right Synonym for shy

adverb