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Shy: meaning, definitions and examples

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shy

 

[ ʃaɪ ]

Adjective / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

personality trait

Being shy is a personality trait characterized by a tendency to feel nervous or timid in social situations.

Synonyms

bashful, reserved, timid

Examples of usage

  • She's too shy to speak up in class.
  • He's always been shy around strangers.
Context #2 | Adjective

feeling

Shy can also describe a feeling of being reluctant or unwilling to do something because of a lack of confidence.

Synonyms

hesitant, reluctant, unwilling

Examples of usage

  • I'm a bit shy about asking for help.
  • She's shy about sharing her ideas.
Context #3 | Noun

plant

A shy is a term used in botany to describe a shoot or branch that bends downwards or backwards.

Synonyms

bending, drooping, incline

Examples of usage

  • The tree had many shys hanging from its branches.

Translations

Translations of the word "shy" in other languages:

🇵🇹 tímido

🇮🇳 शर्मीला (śarmīlā)

🇩🇪 schüchtern

🇮🇩 malu

🇺🇦 сором'язливий

🇵🇱 nieśmiały

🇯🇵 恥ずかしがり屋 (hazukashigariya)

🇫🇷 timide

🇪🇸 tímido

🇹🇷 utangaç

🇰🇷 수줍은 (sujubeun)

🇸🇦 خجول (khajul)

🇨🇿 plachý

🇸🇰 plachý

🇨🇳 害羞 (hàixiū)

🇸🇮 sramežljiv

🇮🇸 feiminn

🇰🇿 ұялшақ (uyalshaq)

🇬🇪 მორცხვი (morts'khvi)

🇦🇿 utancaq

🇲🇽 tímido

Etymology

The word 'shy' originated from Old English 'sceoh,' meaning 'timid or easily startled.' Over time, the meaning evolved to include feelings of reluctance or hesitation. The word has been used in English for centuries to describe various forms of timidity or reservation.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,408 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.