Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In a shy or timid manner; timidly; coyly; diffidently.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In a shy or timid manner; not familiarly; with reserve.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In a shy manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb in a shy or timid or bashful manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

shy +‎ -ly

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word shyly.

Examples

  • He said the name shyly, as if almost afraid to use it.

    Night World No. 1 L.J. Smith 1996

  • He said the name shyly, as if almost afraid to use it.

    Night World No. 1 L.J. Smith 1996

  • “Dinner is served, milady,” he called shyly, grinning at me.

    Dark Angel V.C.Andrews® 1986

  • “Dinner is served, milady,” he called shyly, grinning at me.

    Dark Angel V.C.Andrews® 1986

  • Then, suddenly, as if she had just remembered her, Mother Drovski called Marie, who came shyly from the corner and stood before the two strange women.

    Katrinka: The Story of a Russian Child 1915

  • Then there came the voices of the two children calling shyly outside the door, softly, with self-excited timidity:

    Women in Love 1907

  • He's friendly, kind of shyly sweet and really not very charismatic.

    Forget The Prez Race -- The Real Oregon Contest To Watch Is Colorful Senate Primary 2009

  • "Ah, Monsieur," shyly, "to tell you my name would be to frighten you away."

    The Puppet Crown Harold MacGrath 1901

  • "O Mr. Fenton -- Gilbert," -- she pronounced his Christian name shyly, and in obedience to his reproachful look, -- "remember how short a time we have known each other.

    Fenton's Quest 1875

  • It ends with an almost purple description of a painting that, Ellen says "shyly," she painted for Portia "There is emphasis and urgency in the rendering.

    unknown title 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.