timid

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Shy and nervous, and unwilling to take risks or speak up.

   Grammar: Describes people and animals: a timid child.

   Patterns

   • be timid about something
   • a timid person

   The timid boy hid behind his mother.

   She was too timid to ask a question in class.

   A timid smile crossed his face when he walked in.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Showing a lack of boldness; cautious or weak, especially in action or in a plan.

   Grammar: Used before nouns like response or attempt.

   Patterns

   • a timid response
   • a timid attempt

   The government made only a timid response to the crisis.

   He offered a timid suggestion at the end of the meeting.

   The company took a timid first step into the new market.

Word forms

Common combinations

timid voice

She spoke in a timid voice, hardly above a whisper.

a timid creature

The deer is a timid creature and flees at any noise.

too timid to

He was too timid to ask for a raise.

a timid smile

She gave a timid smile when the teacher called her name.

timid approach

A timid approach rarely wins big contracts.

Synonyms and how they differ

shy

Shy mainly describes discomfort around other people and is warmer than timid, which also suggests fear of risk.

fearful

Fearful is more directly about being afraid, whereas timid includes hesitation and lack of confidence.

meek

Meek suggests gentle, quiet obedience and can sound slightly negative.

cowardly

Cowardly is a harsher judgment of character, while timid is milder.

Opposites

Word family

timidity noun

the quality of being shy and nervous

timidly adverb

in a shy, hesitant way

timorous adjective

formal word for fearful and shy

intimidate verb

related in origin; to make someone feel afraid

Commonly confused: timid or timed?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “timid”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words