Pronunciation: /ʃaɪ/

Definitions of shy

noun a person who is shy

Example Sentences

A1 I am a shy person.

A2 She overcame her shyness by joining a drama club.

B1 His shyness often makes it difficult for him to speak up in meetings.

B2 Despite his shy nature, he managed to give a confident presentation.

C1 Her shyness is often mistaken for aloofness by others.

C2 The actress's natural shyness added to her charm on screen.

adjective feeling nervous or timid in the company of other people

Example Sentences

A1 She is shy and doesn't like to speak in front of a big group.

A2 The shy boy blushed when the teacher called on him in class.

B1 Despite being shy, she managed to make new friends at the party.

B2 His shy demeanor often made people underestimate his intelligence.

C1 Her shy nature belied the confidence she exuded in her work.

C2 The shy artist's work spoke volumes about his inner emotions.

Examples of shy in a Sentence

formal She is quite shy and often avoids social gatherings.

informal My little brother is so shy, he won't even say hello to strangers.

slang I used to be super shy, but now I'm more outgoing.

figurative The sun hid behind the clouds, shy and timid, as if afraid to shine too brightly.

Grammatical Forms of shy

past tense

shied

plural

shies

comparative

shier

superlative

shiest

present tense

shy

future tense

will shy

perfect tense

have shied

continuous tense

is shying

singular

shy

positive degree

shy

infinitive

to shy

gerund

shying

participle

shyed

Origin and Evolution of shy

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'shy' originated from the Old English word 'sceoh' which meant 'timid or easily startled'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'shy' has evolved to also mean 'reserved or hesitant in social situations'.