bashful implies a frightened or hesitant shyness characteristic of childhood and adolescence. BASHFUL definition: uncomfortably diffident and easily embarrassed; shy; timid. See examples of bashful used in a sentence. It took me a while to not be bashful about it -- it's this direct, specific, explicit criticism you don't get when you're on camera. Definition of bashful adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. bashful, adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary bashful - WordReference English dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. All Free. Jul 10, 2025 · bashful (comparative more bashful, superlative most bashful) Shy; not liking to be noticed; socially timid. Indicating bashfulness. quotations a bashful look Bashful means shy or timid. You might feel bashful when meeting a famous actress, a high-ranking government official, or just someone whom you find really good-looking. Bashful and shy are similar in meaning, but not quite identical. Bashful often describes people who are shy but friendly. 1. easily embarrassed; shy; timid: a bashful child. 2. indicative of or proceeding from bashfulness: a bashful manner. bashful meaning, definition, what is bashful: easily embarrassed in social situations: Learn more.