shy Hear it!

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shy1 definition

shy (s̸hī)

adjective shyer shy′er or shier shi′er, shyest shy′·est or shiest shi′·est

  1. easily frightened or startled; timid
  2. not at ease with other people; extremely self-conscious; bashful
  3. showing distrust or caution; wary
  4. not bearing or breeding well, as some plants; unproductive
  5. ☆ Slang
    1. not having paid money due, as one's poker ante
    2. lacking; short (on or of)

Etymology: ME schei, dial. development < OE sceoh, akin to Ger scheu, shy, prob. < IE *skeuk-, harassed (> OSlav ščuti, to pursue); akin to *skeub- > scoff

intransitive verb shied, shying shy′·ing

  1. to move suddenly as when startled; jump; start; recoil the horse shied at the gunshot
  2. to react negatively; be or become cautious or unwilling; draw back: often with at or from

noun pl. shies

an act of shying; start, as of a horse

Related Forms:

shy Idioms

fight shy of

to keep from; avoid; evade
shy2 definition

shy (s̸hī)

transitive verb, intransitive verb shied, shying shy′·ing

to throw or fling, esp. sideways with a jerk shying stones at a target

Etymology: < ?

noun pl. shies

  1. the act of shying; fling
  2. Informal a try or attempt
  3. Informal a gibe

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms shy idiom

shy Synonyms

shy

modif.

retiring, timorous, bashful, modest, demure, diffident; see also humble 1, 2.

shy implies a shrinking from the notice of others and a reticence in approaching them; bashful implies such shyness as is displayed in awkward behavior and embarrassed timidity; diffident implies a lack of self-confidence that makes one reluctant to assert oneself; modest implies a reserved, unassuming manner in one who, because of ability, achievements, etc. might be expected to assert himself or herself strongly and often suggests moderation in behavior, speech, dress, etc.; demure, in current usage, suggests a decorously modest manner, often one that is affectedly so

fight shy of*

avoid, keep from, shun, evade; see avoid.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

shy Usage Examples

Preposition: at

  • stump: Pietersen has a shy at the stumps, but misses with the Australian just about making his ground.

Modifies a noun

  • creature: The Sinai rips the facade off - the shy creature can become the leader.

Modifying Another Word

  • painfully: Some people say he's painfully shy, others think he's arrogant.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • away: Her eyes gaze out on the scene, but shy away from the dancing figures toward the shadow.

Infinitive complement

  • ask: Ask for help: if there are others around you do not be shy to ask for their assistance.

Used with adjective complement

  • fight: They indeed seem to fight shy of the words ' intellectual ' , ' cognitive ' or ' cerebral ' .

Preposition: with

  • stranger: It tends to be friendly and can be very showy in the ring as it is not shy with strangers.
shy usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

shy quotes

   I amterribly shy, but ofcourse no one believesme.Come to think of it, neither would I.

-Channing, Carol Elaine

   Hobbits are an unobtrusive but veryancient people, more numerous formerly than theyare today; for they love peace and quiet and good tilled earth: a well- ordered and well-farmed countryside was their favourite haunt† Even in ancient days they were, as a rule, shy of 'the Big Folk', as they call us, and now they avoid us with dismay and are becoming hard to find.

-Tolkien,J(ohn) R(onald) R(euel)

shy quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"shy." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/shy>

APA Style

shy. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/shy

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