Word
ashamed
US/əˈʃeɪmd/
UK/ɐʃˈeɪmd/
Definitions
01feeling guilt or embarrassment
B1 · Intermediate
adj. feeling bad or embarrassed because you have done something wrong or silly.
adj. feeling shame or distress arising from a sense of guilt, impropriety, or shortcoming.
日本語:恥ずかしい※
“He felt ashamed of his behavior at the party and called to apologize the next day.”
“She was deeply ashamed of her failure to speak up when she witnessed the injustice, feeling that her silence made her complicit.”
Usage
Usually follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel' and takes the preposition 'of'.
Pitfall
I am ashamed about my mistake.
I am ashamed of my mistake.
Use the preposition 'of' after ashamed to indicate the cause of the shame.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02reluctant due to shame
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. unwilling to do something because you are embarrassed or afraid of what people will think.
adj. reluctant to act or speak due to a fear of humiliation or loss of face.
日本語:恥ずかしい※
“I was ashamed to admit that I had never read such a famous book.”
“Many people are ashamed to seek professional help for mental health issues due to the persistent social stigma surrounding the topic.”
Usage
Often followed by a 'to' infinitive.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ashamed” in context.
Verb
01. feel ashamed
“You shouldn't feel ashamed of making a mistake as long as you learn from it.”
verb + adj
02. look ashamed
“The boy looked ashamed when his teacher found the stolen candy in his bag.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. ashamed of
“They were ashamed of the way they had treated the new student.”
adj + prep
04. ashamed to admit
“I am ashamed to admit that I haven't finished the book yet.”
adj + infinitive
05. deeply ashamed
“He felt deeply ashamed of his behavior at the party last night.”
adv + adj
06. thoroughly ashamed
“She was thoroughly ashamed of herself for lying to her best friend.”
adv + adj
Real-World Examples
“We had discussed weight, identity and GLP-1s, but I was so ashamed of going on it that I didn’t want to tell anyone.” “Recently, they’ve been able to pack in their 9-to-5s, although they feel a little ashamed about it.” Etymology
From Middle English ashamed, aschamed, from Old English āsċamod, past participle of Old English āsċamian (“to be ashamed”), equivalent to a- + shame + -ed.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ashamed
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0