B1adjective1K

Shy

UK /["/ʃaɪ/"]/US /["/ʃaɪ/"]/

Definition

nervous or embarrassed about meeting and speaking to other people

In simple words: Not comfortable in social situations; quiet and reserved.

Examples

  • She is too shy to speak in front of the class.
  • Don't be shy; everyone is friendly here.
  • The shy dog hid behind its owner during the party.
  • He's quite shy when meeting new people for the first time.
  • Being shy can sometimes make it difficult to make friends.

Usage notes

Use 'shy' to describe someone who feels nervous around others. It's appropriate in most contexts but may sound overly informal in serious settings. Use 'reserved' or 'introverted' for more formal descriptions.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of a shy person hiding behind a large 'S' (like a shadow) in a crowded room.

Collocations

  • be
  • feel
  • look
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • around
  • of
  • with

Synonyms

  • timid

Antonyms

  • outgoing
  • confident
  • bold

Common mistakes

  • Confusing 'shy' with 'bashful' (not synonymous in all contexts)
  • 'Shy' can be used to describe animals as well, which some learners might miss.
  • Using 'shy' inappropriately with uncountable nouns, e.g., 'She's very shy people.' (should be 'person')