Embarrass definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

embarrass in American English · 1. to cause confusion and shame to; make uncomfortably self-conscious; disconcert; abash · 2. to make difficult or intricate, as a ... EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Sentences Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Japanese Definitionof 'embarrass'    WordFrequency Share× Credits× embarrass (ɪmbærəs ) Wordforms:3rdpersonsingularpresent tenseembarrasses ,presentparticipleembarrassing ,pasttense,pastparticipleembarrassed 1. verb Ifsomethingorsomeoneembarrassesyou,theymakeyoufeelshyorashamed. Hisclumsinessembarrassedhim.[VERBnoun] Itembarrassedhimthathehadnoideaofwhatwasgoingon.[VERBnounthat] 2. verb Ifsomethingembarrassesapublicfiguresuchasapoliticianoranorganizationsuchasapoliticalparty,itcausesproblemsforthem. ...anattempttofindoutwhohadleakedinformationthatembarrassedthepresident.[VERBnoun] TheGovernmenthasbeenembarrassedbytheaffair.[VERBnoun] MoreSynonymsofembarrass COBUILDAdvancedEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Video:pronunciationof embarrass Youmayalsolike EnglishQuizConfusables Synonymsof'embarrass' LanguageLover'sBlog FrenchTranslationof'embarrass' Translateyourtext PronunciationPlaylists Wordoftheday:'Parks' HindiTranslationof'embarrass' NEWfromCollins! EnglishGrammar CollinsApps WordFrequency embarrassinBritishEnglish (ɪmˈbærəs ) verb(mainlytr)1. (alsointr) tofeelorcausetofeelconfusionorself-consciousness;disconcert;fluster 2. (usuallypassive) toinvolveinfinancialdifficulties 3. archaic tomakedifficult;complicate 4. archaic toimpede;obstruct;hamper CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Derivedformsembarrassed(emˈbarrassed)adjective embarrassedly(emˈbarrassedly)adverb WordoriginC17:(inthesense:toimpede):viaFrenchandSpanishfromItalianimbarrazzare,fromimbarraretoconfinewithinbars;seeen-1,bar1 WordFrequency embarrassinAmericanEnglish (ɛmˈbærəs ;ɪmˈbærəs ) verbtransitive1.  tocausetofeelself-conscious,confused,andillatease;disconcert;fluster 2.  tocausedifficultiesto;hinder;impede 3.  tocausetobeindebt;causefinancialdifficultiesto 4.  tomakemoredifficult;complicate SYNONYMYNOTE:toembarrassistocausetofeelillateasesoastoresultinalossofcomposure[embarrassedbytheircompliments];abashimpliesasuddenlossofself-confidenceandagrowingfeelingofshameorinadequacy [Istoodabashedathisrebukes];discomfitimpliesafrustrationofplansorexpectationsandoftenconnotesaresultantfeeling ofdiscomposureorhumiliation;to,disconcertistocausesomeonetoloseself-possessionquickly,resultinginconfusionormental disorganization[hisinterruptionsweredisconcerting];rattle1,fazeareequivalentsfor,disconcert,buttheformeremphasizesemotionalagitation,andthelatterismostcommonlyused innegativeconstructions[dangerdoesnotfazehim]OPPOSITES: compose,assure Webster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,4thEdition.Copyright©2010by HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.Allrightsreserved. Derivedformsembarrassing(emˈbarrassing) adjective embarrassingly(emˈbarrassingly) adverb embarrassment(emˈbarrassment) noun WordoriginFrembarrasser,lit.,toencumber,obstruct