timid

timid — adjective

1. Someone who is timid feels nervous or worried about doing new things or meeting

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

Someone who is timid feels nervous or worried about doing new things or meeting new people, and does not have much self-confidence.

Example

The timid puppy hid behind the sofa whenever a visitor entered the room.

Arjun gave a timid smile and looked down at his shoes.

timid + smile — collocation for shy facial expressions

Common collocations
  • timid smile
  • timid voice
  • timid attempt
  • timid approach
  • timid manner
  • too timid to + verb
  • timid about + noun/gerund
Synonyms
  • shy

    more focused on social awkwardness and discomfort around people; 'timid' covers a broader lack of boldness

  • diffident

    more formal and specifically about lacking confidence in one's own abilities

  • bashful

    suggests a cute or endearing shyness, often in children; less about fear and more about embarrassment

  • meek

    implies a gentle, quiet, and submissive nature; stronger sense of obedience than 'timid'

Antonyms
  • bold

    willing to take risks and act confidently, the direct opposite in terms of courage

  • confident

    having belief in one's own abilities; opposite of the self-doubt in 'timid'

  • brave

    able to face danger or pain without fear; opposite in terms of fearlessness

Grammar Patterns

timid + noun

be + timid

too + timid + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Timid often describes a person's general character rather than just a temporary feeling. Compare with 'shy,' which can describe either a personality trait or a brief moment of discomfort.

Common Mistakes

I felt timid when I saw the spider.
I felt scared when I saw the spider.
'timid' describes a personality tendency toward fear, not a sudden reaction to a specific threat.

Word family

  • timidly
    adverbB1
  • timidity
    nounB2
  • timidness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a person who is not assertive, but each has a distinct flavour. Shy is the most common and general term, focusing on social awkwardness and discomfort around people. Bashful adds a childlike, endearing quality — a bashful child hides behind a parent's leg, whereas a timid child also avoids trying new things. Diffident is more formal and relates specifically to a lack of confidence in one's own judgment or ability; a diffident speaker may hesitate even when well-prepared. Meek implies a gentle, obedient submissiveness — a meek person accepts unfair treatment without complaint, while a timid person might simply avoid the situation. In everyday use, 'shy' and 'timid' overlap the most: a shy person feels nervous at parties, while a timid person also feels nervous about speaking up at work or trying a new activity.

shy ↗bashfuldiffidentmeek

Common collocations

Nouns

  • timid person
  • timid child
  • timid animal
  • timid nature
  • timid voice

Adverbs

  • extremely timid
  • rather timid
  • a little timid
  • socially timid

Phrases

  • too timid to speak
  • timid and unsure

Prepositions

  • timid about

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Timid entered English in the mid-1500s, borrowed from the Latin word 'timidus,' meaning 'fearful' or 'easily frightened.' The Latin root 'timēre' ('to fear') also gives us the word 'timorous,' which has a similar meaning. Over time, the sense broadened from 'easily scared' to also include a general lack of confidence and boldness in social or unfamiliar situations.