Embarrassed
/ɪmˈbærəst/
adjectiveB1past participle used as adjective
Definition
Embarrassed describes the feeling when you are uncomfortable or shy, often because you think you made a mistake or others saw something awkward about you. It is an emotion that happens when you feel self-conscious or a little ashamed in a social situation.
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⚡ See It in Action
Feeling shy or uncomfortable because of a mistake or awkward situation
- •She felt embarrassed when she forgot her lines during the play.
- •He was embarrassed after spilling coffee on his shirt.
- •I get embarrassed when I speak in front of large groups.
Feeling worried about what others think of you
- •They were embarrassed to meet their partner’s parents for the first time.
- •She felt embarrassed about her old clothes at the party.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "embarrassed" like "shy," but it happens when something specific makes you feel uncomfortable, not just meeting new people.
- ✓Picture your face turning red and looking down because you said something wrong or spilled a drink.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when everyone looks at you after you trip or forget a word.
- ✓Sounds like "im-BEAR-uhst" → imagine a clumsy bear feeling shy after falling in front of others.
- ✓Remember a time in school when you forgot your homework and felt everyone was watching you — that is embarrassment.
- ✓NOT like "ashamed" (which is stronger and more serious), embarrassed is lighter and more about small mistakes.
- ✓NOT like "nervous" (which is about fear or worry), embarrassed is about feeling awkward because of yourself.
- ✓NOT like "proud" (which is a good feeling), embarrassed is an uncomfortable feeling about yourself.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Ashamed: feeling bad about something wrong you did (Use when the feeling is stronger and more serious)
- •Awkward: feeling uncomfortable in a situation (Use when the situation feels strange or uneasy, not just because of yourself)
- •Self-conscious: feeling worried about how others see you (Use when focusing on awareness of others' opinions)
- •Uncomfortable: feeling uneasy or not relaxed (Use for general feelings of discomfort)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix: "em-" (a form of "en-" meaning "to cause to be in")
- •Root: "barrass" from Old French "embarrasser," meaning to block or obstruct
- •Etymology: From French, meaning to cause difficulty or confusion
- •Historical development: Originally meant to block or trap, later used to describe feeling troubled or shy
- •Modern usage: Now used to describe feeling shy, awkward, or uncomfortable because of social situations or mistakes
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you remember a time when you felt embarrassed? What caused that feeling?
•How do people show they are embarrassed without using words?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She felt embarrassed because she ___ her words during the speech.
2.When he tripped in front of his friends, he looked ___ and avoided eye contact.
3.Unlike nervousness, being embarrassed usually happens after ___ a mistake.
4.People often say "Sorry" or laugh when they feel embarrassed to ___ the situation.
5.Being embarrassed often makes a person ___ their face or look down.
6.You might feel embarrassed if someone ___ your secret in front of others.
7.Feeling embarrassed can happen when you worry about what ___ think of you.