timid

UK: /ˈtɪmɪd/ US: /ˈtɪmɪd/ ,(tim′id)

Inflections of 'timid' (adj):

timider

adj comparative

timidest

adj superlative

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

tim•id /ˈtɪmɪd/   adj., -er, -est. 

1. lacking in self-assurance, courage, or boldness:
   a timid child.

ti•mid•i•ty/tɪˈmɪdɪti/  tim•id•ness, n. [uncountable]
tim•id•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

tim•id  (tim′id), adj., -er, -est. 

1. lacking in self-assurance, courage, or bravery;
   easily alarmed;
   timorous;
   shy.
2. characterized by or indicating fear:
   a timid approach to a problem.

• Latin timidus fearful, equivalent. to tim(ēre) to fear + -idus -id⁴
• 1540–50

ti•mid′i•ty, tim′id•ness, n. 
tim′id•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. fearful, fainthearted. See cowardly. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

timid / ˈtɪmɪd/ adjective

1. easily frightened or upset, esp by human contact; shy
2. indicating shyness or fear

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin timidus, from timēre to fear

tiˈmidity, ˈtimidness noun

ˈtimidly adverb