shy

SHY/ʃaɪ/

16 meanings of shy

1
adjective
Feeling nervous or embarrassed around other people and not wanting to talk, be noticed, or show your feelings.
Like someone who stays at the edge of a party instead of joining in.
He is too shy to start a conversation with strangers.
Their shy daughter prefers reading alone to going to parties.
UsageSay shy with strangers, or too shy to talk.
Similartimid, bashful, reserved, retiring, diffident
Oppositeoutgoing, confident, bold, extroverted
Note
2
timidadjective
Easily scared and nervous, especially around new people or places.
Like a small animal that hides when anything moves.
The shy rabbit hid when we came close.
The kitten is shy and runs from loud sounds.
UsageShyer and shier are both used.
Similartimid, skittish, nervous, fearful, timorous
Oppositeconfident, brave, bold, fearless
Note
3
avoidverbintransitive
To keep away from something because you feel scared, careful, or embarrassed.
Like stepping back from a door you are afraid to open.
Many people shy away from talking about money.
He tends to shy from any kind of public attention.
UsageSay shy away from something.
Similarshrink, flinch, balk, recoil
Oppositeface, confront, embrace
4
short ofadjectivecolloquial
A little less than the amount needed or expected.
Like a glass that is almost full but missing the last sip.
We were just three dollars shy of the price.
The team finished one point shy of the record.
UsageSay just shy of for almost: just shy of a mile.
Similarshort
Note
5
waryadjective
Careful and a bit distrustful about something that might be risky.
Like checking the ground twice before you step on thin ice.
Buyers are shy of deals that look too good to be true.
After the scam, he grew shy of online sellers.
UsageSay shy of something: shy of online sellers.
Similarwary, cautious, leery, chary, suspicious
Oppositetrusting
Note

Less common meanings

6
jump in fearverbintransitive
To suddenly jump back because something scares you.
Like jumping back when something pops out at you.
The horse shied when the balloon popped nearby.
Horses often shy at sudden movements.
UsageA horse shies at something that scares it.
Similarstartle, start (entry)
7
a startled jumpnouncountable
A quick jump to the side, like when a horse gets scared.
Like jumping back fast when something surprises you.
The horse made a quick shy when the car horn beeped.
A sudden shy nearly threw the rider from her saddle.
Similarstart (entry), swerve, jump, lurch
8
flingverbtransitive
To throw something quickly to the side.
Like flicking a flat stone sideways to skip it on water.
The boys shied stones across the pond.
He likes to shy a ball against the wall.
UsageYou shy a stone at something.
Similarthrow, fling, hurl, toss, chuck
Oppositecatch
Note
9
a thrownouncountable
A single throw of something at a target.
Like one toss of a ball at a fair game.
He took a shy at the coconut and missed.
One good shy knocked the can off the wall.
UsageOften have a shy at something.
Similarthrow, toss, fling, shot
Note
10
nounarchaic
An unkind, mocking remark aimed at someone.
Note
11
fair stallnouncountable
A spot at a fair where you throw balls to knock down targets and win prizes.
Like a game stall where you throw to win a prize.
We spent our coins at the shy, throwing balls at tin cans.
At the fair, I won a teddy bear at the coconut shy.
UsageOften used in coconut shy.
Similarstall, booth, stand
12
verbdialectalScotland
To throw a ball with both hands over your head, like a soccer throw-in.
13
noundialectalScotland
A way to put the ball back into play in soccer by throwing it over your head.
14
verbdialectalScotland
To put the ball back into play in shinty by tossing it up and hitting it with the stick.
15
noundialectalScotland
In shinty, a move where you toss the ball up and hit it with your stick to put it back in play.
16
nounrare
In a game played at Eton College, a point you score by lifting the ball against the wall.

Practice

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Origin

From Old English sċēoh, meaning "shy." It comes from older Germanic words meaning "shy" or "fearful."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Shy derives from Old English sċēoh, meaning "shy." en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word derives from older Germanic forms meaning "shy" or "fearful." en.wiktionary.org