Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [shahy]
- /ʃaɪ/
- /ʃaɪ/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [shahy]
- /ʃaɪ/
Definitions of shy word
- adjective shy bashful; retiring. 1
- adjective shy easily frightened away; timid. 1
- adjective shy suspicious; distrustful: I am a bit shy of that sort of person. 1
- adjective shy reluctant; wary. 1
- adjective shy deficient: shy of funds. 1
- adjective shy scant; short of a full amount or number: still a few dollars shy of our goal; an inch shy of being six feet. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of shy
First appearance:
before 1000 One of the 6% oldest English words
before 1000; late Middle English schey (adj.), early Middle English scheowe, Old English scēoh; cognate with Middle High German schiech; akin to Dutch schuw, German scheu; cf. eschew
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Shy
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
shy popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 93% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
shy usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for shy
verb shy
- aberrated — simple past tense and past participle of aberrate.
- avoid — If you avoid something unpleasant that might happen, you take action in order to prevent it from happening.
- balk — If you balk at something, you definitely do not want to do it or to let it happen.
- bandied — to pass from one to another or back and forth; give and take; trade; exchange: to bandy blows; to bandy words.
- bandying — to pass from one to another or back and forth; give and take; trade; exchange: to bandy blows; to bandy words.
adj shy
- aflutter — in or into a nervous or excited state
- against the grain — contrary to one's feelings, nature, wishes, etc.; irritating or displeasing
- ashamed — If someone is ashamed, they feel embarrassed or guilty because of something they do or they have done, or because of their appearance.
- at a premium — If something is at a premium, it is wanted or needed, but is difficult to get or achieve.
- backward — A backward movement or look is in the direction that your back is facing. Some people use backwards for this meaning.
adjective shy
- antisocial — Someone who is antisocial is unwilling to meet and be friendly with other people.
- bashful — Someone who is bashful is shy and easily embarrassed.
- chary — If you are chary of doing something, you are fairly cautious about doing it.
- cowhearted — cowardly.
- elusive — Difficult to find, catch, or achieve.
noun shy
- lob — Tennis. to hit (a ball) in a high arc to the back of the opponent's court.
Antonyms for shy
adj shy
- adventurous — Someone who is adventurous is willing to take risks and to try new methods. Something that is adventurous involves new things or ideas.
- animate — Something that is animate has life, in contrast to things like stones and machines which do not.
- arrogant — Someone who is arrogant behaves in a proud, unpleasant way towards other people because they believe that they are more important than others.
- assertive — Someone who is assertive states their needs and opinions clearly, so that people take notice.
- assertory — characterized by or relating to declaration or affirmation
adjective shy
- aper — a person who apes, a mimic
- courageous — Someone who is courageous shows courage.
- egocentric — Thinking only of oneself, without regard for the feelings or desires of others ; self-centered.
- eloquent — Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.
- ex — (of goods) sold direct from.
Top questions with shy
- how to not be shy?
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- how to tell if a shy girl likes you?
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