Embarrassed
ɪmˈbærəst
Definitions
Feeling self-conscious, uncomfortable, or ashamed.
ɪmˈbærəst
Feeling or showing a state of self-conscious distress or awkwardness.
He was embarrassed to admit he'd forgotten her birthday.
💡 Simply: Have you ever said the wrong thing in front of a bunch of people? Or maybe tripped and fallen? When that happens, you might feel embarrassed! It's like a feeling of 'oops, I wish I hadn't done that!'
👶 For kids: Feeling yucky because you did something silly or something that makes you feel shy.
More Examples
She blushed, clearly embarrassed by the compliment.
The comedian's jokes were so bad that the audience became embarrassed for him.
How It's Used
"She felt embarrassed when she tripped and spilled her drink."
"He was embarrassed to admit he didn't know how to use the software."
From French *embarrasser* 'to block, impede' (16th century), ultimately from Old French *barre* 'bar' (related to 'barrier').
The term 'embarrassed' gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries with the rise of novels that explored the complexities of social interactions and the emotions they stirred.
Memory tip
Think of the feeling when you make a silly mistake in public; you become *embarrassed*.