Shyness

Pronunciation: /ˈʃaɪnəs/

Definitions of shyness

noun a feeling of discomfort or lack of confidence in social situations

Example Sentences

A1 Her shyness prevented her from speaking up in class.

A2 John's shyness made it difficult for him to make new friends.

B1 Despite her shyness, she managed to give a great presentation at work.

B2 His shyness sometimes comes across as aloofness to others.

C1 Her shyness is something she has been working on in therapy.

C2 Although she has overcome most of her shyness, she still struggles in large social gatherings.

Examples of shyness in a Sentence

formal Her shyness often prevents her from speaking up in large group settings.

informal Don't worry about your shyness, we all get nervous sometimes.

slang His shyness around girls is so obvious, it's kind of cute.

figurative The garden's shyness in the shadow of the towering skyscrapers made it feel like a hidden oasis.

Grammatical Forms of shyness

• past tense: was shy
• plural: shynesses
• comparative: shyer
• superlative: shyest
• present tense: is shy
• future tense: will be shy
• perfect tense: has been shy
• continuous tense: is being shy
• singular: shyness
• positive degree: shy
• infinitive: to be shy
• gerund: being shy
• participle: shy

Origin and Evolution of shyness

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'shyness' originated from the Middle English word 'schynes', which was derived from the Old English word 'scynnes' meaning timidity or lack of confidence.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'shyness' has evolved to encompass a broader range of meanings related to social anxiety and introversion, reflecting changing societal attitudes towards personality traits.