shy

adjective
UK: /ʃaɪ/
US: /ʃaɪ/

  1. Timid and uncomfortable around other people.

    1. She is a shy girl. [ ] [ ]
    2. My dog is shy around strangers, so approach slowly if you see him. [ ] [ ]

  2. Avoiding something because you lack confidence or are afraid.

    1. Don't be shy, ask for help. [ ] [ ]
    2. He's shy of making big decisions, always seeking advice first. [ ] [ ]
shy intransitive-verb

  1. To recoil or draw back, often due to fear or surprise.

    1. The horse shied at the noise. [ ] [ ]
    2. The actor shied away from the camera, he was not ready. [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "shy" in English means: Timid and uncomfortable around other people., Avoiding something because you lack confidence or are afraid..

The phonetic transcription of "shy" is /ʃaɪ/ in British English and /ʃaɪ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Example usage of "shy": "She is a shy girl.". More examples on the page.