Word
abashedly
Phoneticsabashed·ly
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. in a way that shows you feel embarrassed or ashamed about something you did. You might look at the floor or speak quietly when you act this way.
adv. in a manner characterized by embarrassment, shame, or a lack of self-confidence. Often used to describe a person's reaction after being caught in a mistake or a social blunder.
Examples
“He smiled abashedly after realizing he was in the wrong room.”
“When the teacher pointed out the obvious error on the board, the student abashedly corrected his work while the class watched.”
“She stood abashedly before the committee, her quiet voice and downcast eyes betraying the deep regret she felt for the oversight that had compromised the entire project's timeline.”
Examples
simple
“He smiled abashedly after realizing he was in the wrong room.”
contextual
“When the teacher pointed out the obvious error on the board, the student abashedly corrected his work while the class watched.”
complex
“She stood abashedly before the committee, her quiet voice and downcast eyes betraying the deep regret she felt for the oversight that had compromised the entire project's timeline.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “abashedly” in context.
Verb
01. abashedly admit the mistake
“He abashedly admitted the mistake when the manager pointed out the error in the report.”
adv + verb + noun
02. abashedly apologize for the mess
“They abashedly apologized for the mess they had left in the kitchen after the party.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
03. abashedly confess that
“He abashedly confessed that he had forgotten his wife's birthday for the second year in a row.”
adv + verb + that-clause
04. abashedly look at the floor
“The student abashedly looked at the floor while the teacher explained why his behavior was unacceptable.”
adv + verb + prep + noun
05. mutter abashedly
“He muttered abashedly when he was asked to explain his sudden departure from the meeting.”
verb + adv
06. smile abashedly
“She smiled abashedly after realizing she had been wearing her sweater inside out all morning.”
verb + adv
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause to describe the subject's emotional state.
Etymology
From abashed + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Rare
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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