what does timid mean
Timid means feeling or showing a lack of courage or confidence, often being shy, nervous, or easily scared in social or challenging situations.
Simple meaning
- A timid person is shy and nervous, and not very brave about speaking up or trying new things.
- It can also describe actions that are not bold enough, like a timid decision or a timid plan.
- Synonyms include shy, fearful, cautious, and bashful.
In everyday life
You might call someone timid if:
- They are quiet and avoid talking to strangers.
- They hesitate to enter a room full of people.
- They are afraid to take risks, like trying a new activity or sharing their opinion in class or at work.
Example:
He gave a timid smile and looked down at the floor.
Extra details
- Part of speech: adjective.
- Related words:
- timidity (noun) – the quality of being timid.
* **timidly** (adverb) – doing something in a timid way, like “She walked in timidly.”
- Origin: from Latin “timidus,” meaning “to fear.”
TL;DR: Timid means shy and lacking courage or confidence, often careful or afraid to act boldly.