shyness

UK: /ˈʃaɪnɪs/

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

shy¹ /ʃaɪ/   adj., shy•er or shi•er, shy•est or shi•est, v., shied, shy•ing. 
adj. 

1. bashful;
   retiring;
   timid:
   a shy smile.
2. distrustful;
   unwilling to do or face something:
   [be + ~ + of + object] is shy of publicity.
3. not having enough of something;
   lacking:
   [be + ~ + of + object] was shy of funds.

v. 

4. (esp. of a horse) to make a sudden movement back or aside in fear or alarm:
   [no object] to shy away.
5. shy away from, [~ + away + from + object] to draw back;
   hesitate to do:
   They shied away from that deal because they didn't trust the salesman.

shy•ly, adv.: 

He smiled shyly at her.

shy•ness, n. [uncountable]

shy² /ʃaɪ/   v., shied, shy•ing, n., pl. shies. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to throw with a swift, sudden movement:
   shying stones into the water.

n. [countable]

2. a quick, sudden throw.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

shy¹  (shī), adj., shy•er or shi•er, shy•est or shi•est, v., shied, shy•ing, n., pl. shies. 
adj. 

1. bashful;
   retiring.
2. easily frightened away;
   timid.
3. suspicious;
   distrustful:
   I am a bit shy of that sort of person.
4. reluctant;
   wary.
5. deficient:
   shy of funds.
6. scant;
   short of a full amount or number:
   still a few dollars shy of our goal; an inch shy of being six feet.
7. Games (in poker) indebted to the pot.
8. not bearing or breeding freely, as plants or animals.
9. fight shy of, to keep away from;
   avoid:
   She fought shy of making the final decision.

v.i. 

10. (esp. of a horse) to start back or aside, as in fear.
11. to draw back;
    recoil.

n. 

12. a sudden start aside, as in fear.

• bef. 1000; late Middle English schey (adjective, adjectival), early Middle English scheowe, Old English scēoh; cognate with Middle High German schiech; akin to Dutch schuw, German scheu; compare eschew

shy′er, n. 
shy′ly, adv. 
shy′ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. Shy, bashful, diffident imply a manner that shows discomfort or lack of confidence in association with others.
  Shy implies a constitutional shrinking from contact or close association with others, together with a wish to escape notice:
  shy and retiring.
  Bashful suggests timidity about meeting others, and trepidation and awkward behavior when brought into prominence or notice:
  a bashful child.
  Diffident emphasizes self-distrust, fear of censure, failure, etc., and a hesitant, tentative manner as a consequence:
  a diffident approach to a touchy subject.
• 4. heedful, cautious, chary.
• 11. shrink.

Antonyms

• 1. forward.
• 2. trusting.
• 4. careless.
• 11. advance.

shy²  (shī), v., shied, shy•ing, n., pl. shies. 
v.t., v.i. 

1. to throw with a swift, sudden movement:
   to shy a stone.

n. 

2. a quick, sudden throw.
3. Informal Terms
   • a gibe or sneer.
   • a try.

• origin, originally uncertain 1780–90

shy′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. toss, pitch, fling, cast, flip.