ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ashamed

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //əˈʃeɪmd// UK //ɐʃˈeɪmd// ashamed General-service

adj. feeling very bad or embarrassed because you did something wrong or silly. You might feel this way when you think others will judge you for your actions.

adj. feeling shame, guilt, or embarrassment resulting from an awareness of one's own improper or foolish behaviour. Often used to describe a deep sense of moral or social failure.


SIMPLE

He felt ashamed of his rude behavior at the party.

CONTEXTUAL

She was deeply ashamed that she had forgotten her best friend's wedding anniversary for the third year in a row.

COMPLEX

While some public figures remain defiant after a scandal, others appear genuinely ashamed of the damage their decisions have caused to the community's trust.

Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English ashamed, aschamed, from Old English āsċamod, past participle of Old English āsċamian (“to be ashamed”), equivalent to a- + shame + -ed.

Usage

Typically used with the preposition 'of' followed by a noun or gerund, or with a 'that' clause.

Pitfall

I am ashamed for my mistakeI am ashamed of my mistakeThe adjective 'ashamed' is followed by the preposition 'of', not 'for', when identifying the cause of the shame.

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