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.

shyness

noun

as in bashfulness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

bashfulness
timidity
embarrassment
timidness
skittishness
inhibition
timorousness
faintheartedness
hesitation
restraint
constraint
indecision
indecisiveness
anxiety
fear
irresolution
panic
discomposure
worry
irresoluteness
concern
cowardice
upset
cowardliness
dismay
apprehension
cravenness
alarm
spinelessness
alarum

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

boldness
nerve
confidence
audacity
audaciousness
assurance
coolness
nonchalance
composure
guts
insouciance
unconcern
cojones
determination
self-confidence
fortitude
courage
resolution
fearlessness
decisiveness
self-assurance
self-assertiveness
grit
firmness
resoluteness
spunk
gumption
bravery
gameness
fiber
intrepidity
backbone
mettle
valor
daring
courageousness
dauntlessness
brazenness
temerity
effrontery
intrepidness
cheek
gall
gutsiness
doughtiness

as in humility

Synonyms & Similar Words

humility
meekness
modesty
sociability
affability
gracefulness
geniality
friendliness
cordiality
decorum
respectability
deference
hospitality
elegance
politesse
felicitousness
decency
seemliness
manners
urbanity
polish
suaveness
breeding
propriety
gallantry
decorousness
gentilesse
courtliness
respect
chivalry
gentlemanliness
refinement
unctuousness
knighthood
chivalrousness
knightliness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rudeness
boldness
brashness
surliness
impoliteness
shamelessness
impudence
discourtesy
boorishness
sauciness
disrespect
insolence
impertinence
incivility
audacity
vulgarity
churlishness
casualness
informality
audaciousness
brassiness
ungraciousness
arrogance
clownishness
delinquency
inappropriateness
loutishness
presumption
discourteousness
inconsiderateness
thoughtlessness
incorrectness
impropriety
indecency
inconsideration
pretentiousness
conceit
improperness

单词	shyness
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. shyness noun 1 as in bashfulness Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance bashfulness timidity embarrassment timidness skittishness inhibition timorousness faintheartedness hesitation restraint constraint indecision indecisiveness anxiety fear irresolution panic discomposure worry irresoluteness concern cowardice upset cowardliness dismay apprehension cravenness alarm spinelessness alarum Antonyms & Near Antonyms boldness nerve confidence audacity audaciousness assurance coolness nonchalance composure guts insouciance unconcern cojones determination self-confidence fortitude courage resolution fearlessness decisiveness self-assurance self-assertiveness grit firmness resoluteness spunk gumption bravery gameness fiber intrepidity backbone mettle valor daring courageousness dauntlessness brazenness temerity effrontery intrepidness cheek gall gutsiness doughtiness See More 2 as in humility Synonyms & Similar Words humility meekness modesty sociability affability gracefulness geniality friendliness cordiality decorum respectability deference hospitality elegance politesse felicitousness decency seemliness manners urbanity polish suaveness breeding propriety gallantry decorousness gentilesse courtliness respect chivalry gentlemanliness refinement unctuousness knighthood chivalrousness knightliness Antonyms & Near Antonyms rudeness boldness brashness surliness impoliteness shamelessness impudence discourtesy boorishness sauciness disrespect insolence impertinence incivility audacity vulgarity churlishness casualness informality audaciousness brassiness ungraciousness arrogance clownishness delinquency inappropriateness loutishness presumption discourteousness inconsiderateness thoughtlessness incorrectness impropriety indecency inconsideration pretentiousness conceit improperness 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

noun