shy, bashful, diffident, modest, coy mean not inclined to be forward. shy implies a timid reserve and a shrinking from familiarity or contact with others.

He was too shy to ask her to dance with him. She gave a shy smile. Children are often shy with people they don't know. The deer were shy (= unwilling to be near people) and hid behind some trees.

If you are shy about or shy of doing something, you are unwilling to do it because you are afraid of what might happen. They feel shy about showing their feelings.

1. To move suddenly or draw back, as if startled or afraid: The horse shied at the loud sound. 2. To avoid engaging in, treating, or discussing something: "a film adaptation that would not shy away from …

Tending to avoid contact or familiarity with others; retiring or reserved. A shy student who stayed in the back of the room.

Mar 13, 2026 · shy (third-person singular simple present shies, present participle shying, simple past and past participle shied) (intransitive) To avoid due to caution, embarrassment or timidness.

Elusive; hard to find, get at, obtain, or accomplish. Morally circumspect; scrupulous. Keen; piercing; bold; sharp. Sly; sharp; cunning. Scant. The wind is said to be shy when it will barely allow a vessel …

suspicious, distrustful, or wary (often used in combination): The studio made a huge mistake when they cast a horse-shy actor in the cowboy role. I am a bit shy of that sort of person.

Definition of shy adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Shy means being nervous or reserved around other people, especially in a social situation. Someone who's extremely shy might blush or stammer when talking to a group of people. Shy can also mean …