Meaning of "shy" in the English dictionary

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD SHY

Old English sceoh; related to Old High German sciuhen to frighten away, Dutch schuw shy, Swedish skygg.

Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.

PRONUNCIATION OF SHY

shy  [ʃaɪ]

GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF SHY

Shy is a verb and can also act as a noun and an adjective.

A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

The adjective is the word that accompanies the noun to determine or qualify it.

The verb is the part of the sentence that is conjugated and expresses action and state of being.

See the conjugation of the verb shy in English.

WHAT DOES SHY MEAN IN ENGLISH?

Shyness

Shyness is the feeling of apprehension, lack of comfort, or awkwardness especially when a person is in proximity to other people. This commonly occurs in new situations or with unfamiliar people. Shyness can be a characteristic of people who have low self-esteem. Stronger forms of shyness are usually referred to as social anxiety or social phobia. The primary defining characteristic of shyness is a largely ego-driven fear of what other people will think of a person's behavior, which results in the person becoming scared of doing or saying what he or she wants to, out of fear of negative reactions, criticism, rejection, and simply opting to avoid social situations instead. One of the key and most important aspects of shyness is social skills development. Schools and many parents implicitly assume that pupils are fully capable of effective social interaction. Social skills training is not given any priority and as a result, shyness develops in vulnerable pupils.

Definition of shy in the English dictionary

The first definition of shy in the dictionary is not at ease in the company of others. Other definition of shy is easily frightened; timid. Shy is also watchful or wary.

CONJUGATION OF THE VERB TO SHY

PRESENT

Present

I shy

you shy

he/she/it shies

we shy

you shy

they shy

Present continuous

I am shying

you are shying

he/she/it is shying

we are shying

you are shying

they are shying

Present perfect

I have shied

you have shied

he/she/it has shied

we have shied

you have shied

they have shied

Present perfect continuous

I have been shying

you have been shying

he/she/it has been shying

we have been shying

you have been shying

they have been shying

Present tense is used to refer to circumstances that exist at the present time or over a period that includes the present time. The present perfect refers to past events, although it can be considered to denote primarily the resulting present situation rather than the events themselves.

PAST

Past

I shied

you shied

he/she/it shied

we shied

you shied

they shied

Past continuous

I was shying

you were shying

he/she/it was shying

we were shying

you were shying

they were shying

Past perfect

I had shied

you had shied

he/she/it had shied

we had shied

you had shied

they had shied

Past perfect continuous

I had been shying

you had been shying

he/she/it had been shying

we had been shying

you had been shying

they had been shying

Past tense forms express circumstances existing at some time in the past,

FUTURE

Future

I will shy

you will shy

he/she/it will shy

we will shy

you will shy

they will shy

Future continuous

I will be shying

you will be shying

he/she/it will be shying

we will be shying

you will be shying

they will be shying

Future perfect

I will have shied

you will have shied

he/she/it will have shied

we will have shied

you will have shied

they will have shied

Future perfect continuous

I will have been shying

you will have been shying

he/she/it will have been shying

we will have been shying

you will have been shying

they will have been shying

The future is used to express circumstances that will occur at a later time.

CONDITIONAL

Conditional

I would shy

you would shy

he/she/it would shy

we would shy

you would shy

they would shy

Conditional continuous

I would be shying

you would be shying

he/she/it would be shying

we would be shying

you would be shying

they would be shying

Conditional perfect

I would have shy

you would have shy

he/she/it would have shy

we would have shy

you would have shy

they would have shy

Conditional perfect continuous

I would have been shying

you would have been shying

he/she/it would have been shying

we would have been shying

you would have been shying

they would have been shying

Conditional or "future-in-the-past" tense refers to hypothetical or possible actions.

IMPERATIVE

Imperative

you shy
we let´s shy
you shy

The imperative is used to form commands or requests.

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

Infinitive

to shy

Past participle

shied

Present Participle

shying

Infinitive shows the action beyond temporal perspective. The present participle or gerund shows the action during the session. The past participle shows the action after completion.

SYNONYMS OF «SHY»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «shy» and belong to the same grammatical category.

synonyms of shy

aw-shucks · backward · balk · bashful · buck · cast · cautious · chary · chuck · coy · diffident · distrustful · flinch · fling · hesitant · hurl · lob · modest · mousy · nervous · pitch · propel · quail · rear · recoil · reserved · reticent · retiring · self-conscious · self-effacing · send · shrinking · sling · start · suspicious · swerve · take fright · throw · timid · toss · wary · wince

TRANSLATION OF SHY

Find out the translation of shy to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.

The translations of shy from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «shy» in English.

• Translator English - Chinese: 腼腆的
• Translator English - Spanish: tímido
• English: shy
• Translator English - Hindi: शर्मीला
• Translator English - Arabic: خَجُول
• Translator English - Russian: робкий
• Translator English - Portuguese: tímido
• Translator English - Bengali: লাজুক
• Translator English - French: timide
• Translator English - Malay: Malu
• Translator English - German: schüchtern
• Translator English - Japanese: 内気な
• Translator English - Korean: 부끄럼 타는
• Translator English - Javanese: Isin
• Translator English - Vietnamese: bẽn lẽn
• Translator English - Tamil: வெட்கப்பட்டார்
• Translator English - Marathi: लाजाळू
• Translator English - Turkish: utangaç
• Translator English - Italian: timido
• Translator English - Polish: nieśmiały
• Translator English - Ukrainian: сором´язливий
• Translator English - Romanian: timid
• Translator English - Greek: ντροπαλός
• Translator English - Afrikaans: skaam
• Translator English - Swedish: blyg
• Translator English - Norwegian: sky

10 QUOTES WITH «SHY»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word shy.

1

Dorothy Allison

I was born in 1949, and by the time I was 10, I figured out that my hope chest was not aimed in the same direction everybody else's was. And that life was going to be very, very complicated. And that I could either be provocative and declamatory, or shy, retiring and scared.

2

Jami Attenberg

Young adult novels don't shy away from the discussion of weight issues, and 'Blubber,' the tale of an overweight, not-so-sympathetic fifth-grader bullied by her peers, is a refreshing take.

3

Marisa Berenson

I think I was very shy and introverted when I was younger, and yet, when I got in front of the camera or went out on the town, I was able to go out half-naked and do anything.

4

Austin Butler

I was scouted at the age of 10 by a Hollywood agent. I was a really shy, geeky-looking thing, and started in the industry by doing 'extra' work on films.

5

Jack Canfield

People who ask confidently get more than those who are hesitant and uncertain. When you've figured out what you want to ask for, do it with certainty, boldness and confidence. Don't be shy or feel intimidated by the experience. You may face some unexpected criticism, but be prepared for it with confidence.

6

Tessanne Chin

Off stage, I'm very quiet and very reserved and kind of shy.

7

Christian Cooke

I was painfully shy, so my aunt suggested to my mum that me and my brother go to Stage 84, a performing arts school in Yorkshire. I've probably romanticised it in my head, but I seem to remember that in the space of an hour's drama workshop, I was transformed. I went in really shy, and I came out full of confidence.

8

Mos Def

I'm not shy about heated debate or passionate discourse, but when people get crazy or rude, that's a buzz kill. There's got to be a better code of conduct, some basic etiquette.

9

Nigel Dennis

My first serious project was photographing badgers - very, very difficult as they are shy and nocturnal.

10

Richard Eyre

I was a chronically shy child. That kernel of my younger self is still there, but I've developed mechanisms to deal with it.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «SHY»

Discover the use of shy in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to shy and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.

Goodbye to Shy: 85 Shybusters That Work!

Say hello to new friends, new business opportunities, new love, and new confidence Okay, so you're shy. Here are 85 proven techniques to help you conquer your shyness and change your life for good. No psychobabble. No nonsense.

Leil Lowndes, 2006

Say Goodbye to Being Shy: A Workbook to Help Kids Overcome ...

Say Goodbye to Being Shy is a book for children who struggle with extreme to occasional shyness.

Richard Brozovich, Linda Chase, 2008

Shy

Explains what to do when experiencing feelings of shyness.

Isabel Thomas, 2013

I Know a Shy Fellow who Swallowed a Cello

Being a very shy person, a quiet man suddenly gets all the attention when he swallows a cello and other musical instruments whole as part of a strange diet associated with his passionate love of music.

‎2004

Shy

Explains what shyness is, describes how children may feel when they are shy, and tells the appropriate responses to this feeling.

Sarah Medina, 2007

Nurturing the Shy Child: Practical Help for Raising ...

A manual for parents of shy children or teens who avoid social situations or experience inordinate levels of stress or self-consciousness when speaking in groups covers such treatment options as exposure therapy, relaxation techniques, ...

Barbara Markway, Gregory Markway, Gregory P. Markway, 2006

From Shy To Social: The Shy Man's Guide to Personal & Dating ...

“Engaging, well-researched and frequently hilarious, From Shy To Social is one of those rare self-help books that feels like you're being coached and encouraged by a trusted friend.

Christopher Gray, 2011

Talking with Confidence for the Painfully Shy: How to ...

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Don Gabor, 2010

Don't Be Shy: How to Fit In, Make Friends, and Have Fun-Even ...

Presents advice for teens on overcoming shyness, including tips on speaking out, making friends, and interacting with others.

Claude Clément, Melissa Daly, Christian Quénnehen, 2005

The Shy Single: A Bold Guide to Dating for the ...

An innovative program designed to help men and women overcome their shyness to successfully navigate a variety of social situations uses a dating profile quiz and journaling exercises to help readers understand their dating preferences and ...

Bonnie Jacobson, Ph.D., 2004

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «SHY»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term shy is used in the context of the following news items.

Budding rap star Shy Glizzy accused of disorderly conduct in …

Budding rap star Shy Glizzy was arrested in Montgomery County amid allegations by police that he and others tried to start a small riot in downtown Silver Spring ... «Washington Post, Jul 15»

Fetty Wap ft. Shy Glizzy “Why You Mad,” Post Malone “Holyfield …

The song features Shy Glizzy out of Washington D.C. and happens to be the highlight of today's Wired Tracks. The duo trade verses overs the bouncy production ... «Hip-Hop Wired, Jul 15»

Notable Releases: Singles: “Awwsome,” “Funeral,” “White Girl …

Shy Glizzy. By XXL Staff June 23, 2015 ... Behind-The-Scenes: Shy Glizzy. Image 1 of 22. Photo by Lexi Lambros. shy glizzy. Behind-The-Scenes: Shy Glizzy ... «XXLMAG.COM, Jun 15»

New Public-Corruption Chief Vows To Not Shy Away

"What you can see from that case and some of the others we've brought over the last several months is that this section is not going to be shy about bringing ... «NPR, May 15»

'Shy' Becky Watts who 'touched the hearts of the nation' laid to rest

The grief-stricken father of Becky Watts spoke of his love for his "shy girl" who "touched the hearts of the nation" as hundreds gathered to say a final goodbye in ... «Irish Independent, Apr 15»

Shy Tuttle puts on Saturday show

“The one individual who I thought really stepped up and really made his presence felt was Shy Tuttle,” Jones said. “I thought he had a very, very productive and ... «tennessee.247sports.com, Mar 15»

Cressida Bonas: 'I'm paralysingly shy… but when I perform I feel free'

"I don't really understand it; in real life I'm often so shy – paralysingly so," she recently confided to Miss Vogue magazine, "But when I'm performing, it's totally ... «hellomagazine.com, Mar 15»

Shy Maria Sharapova Loves Karaoke, Art and Architecture

"I'm quite shy, actually, in the beginning," the US-based Russian told The Age newspaper in Melbourne as she prepares to launch her Australian Open ... «NDTVSports.com, Jan 15»

Marilyn Manson: I'm a shy guy

"I'm just really shy, despite what you'd imagine," he told Rolling Stone, after revealing he only makes love with the lights off. The star then added he always has ... «Music News, Jan 15»

DNR: Hunters are just four wolves shy of Wisconsin limit

MADISON (AP) — Hunters are four wolves shy of Wisconsin's statewide kill limit, throwing the prospect of using dogs in this year's hunt into doubt. State tallies ... «fox6now.com, Nov 14»