What is the meaning of shy?

noun

  • A quick throw.
    • usage: "he gave the ball a shy to the first baseman"

verb

  • Start suddenly, as from fright.
  • Throw quickly.

adjective

  • Lacking self-confidence.
    • usage: "stood in the doorway diffident and abashed"; "problems that call for bold not timid responses"; "a very unsure young man"
  • Short.
    • usage: "eleven is one shy of a dozen"
  • Wary and distrustful; disposed to avoid persons or things.
    • usage: "shy of strangers"
WordNet 3.0 © 2006 by Princeton University
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APAWordNet. (2010). shy. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/shy/definitions/1183497
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "shy" http://smartdefine.org/shy/definitions/1183497 (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, shy, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/shy/definitions/1183497>.
MLAWordNet. "shy" 23 October 2010. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/shy/definitions/1183497>
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