easy
The shy child smiled but did not speak at first.
What does Shy mean?
quiet or nervous around people.
Dictionary definition
Feeling nervous or quiet around other people, especially in new situations.
Example sentences
Shy in a sentence
medium
Maya felt shy when she joined the new reading group.
hard
The author shows that the shy character becomes more confident through small brave choices.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice shy in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Shy
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does shy mean?
Shy describes someone who may feel nervous or quiet in social situations.
Practice 2
Which word is closest in meaning to shy?
Bashful is close in meaning to shy.
Practice 3
Which word is a useful contrast for shy?
Confident contrasts with shy because it means feeling sure of yourself.
Practice complete
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You completed 3 questions.
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Shy
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SHY
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SHY
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WordShy.
Partadjective.
MeaningShy means quiet or nervous around people.
ExampleExample: The shy child smiled but did not speak at first.
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Synonyms
Words like Shy
bashfulUse for someone who feels shy or easily embarrassed.
timidUse for someone who feels unsure or nervous.
Antonyms
Opposite words
Synonym practice
Want to practice shy synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "The shy student smiled softly at the group," then compare close word choices. Practice shy synonyms.
Word family
Shy word family
Base word
shy
adjective
shyer
More shy.
adjective
shyest
Most shy.
adverb
shyly
In a shy way.
noun
shyness
The quality of being shy.
Related words
Explore related words
Student support
Understand Shy
Hint for students
quiet or nervous around people.
Common mix-up
Shy is not the same as confident. Shy means quiet or nervous around people.
Try it in class or at home
Read this model sentence: Maya felt shy when she joined the new reading group. Clue words: maya, felt, joined. Underline clue words that show peace, control, patience, or lack of worry. Now write one new sentence that shows shy without using the word shy. Ask: Does my sentence clearly show shy?
Teacher prompt
Ask students to explain this model sentence: "Maya felt shy when she joined the new reading group." Why does shy fit better than confident?
Learning activities
Practice Shy and explore more word games
Cards labelled “Practice SHY” keep this word in focus. Explore cards open games with other words.
Practice SHY
Sentence Builder
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