# embarrassed

/ɪmˈbɛɹəst/ (US) · /ɛmbˈæɹəst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/embarrassed
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. feeling ashamed or awkward

adjective · CEFR B1

feeling uncomfortable, shy, or ashamed because of something you did or because of what people think of you.

For teachers: feeling self-conscious, ashamed, or socially awkward. This is a gradable adjective often followed by the prepositions 'about' or 'by'.

- I felt so embarrassed when I realized my shirt was on backwards all morning.
- He was visibly embarrassed by the public praise, shifting uncomfortably in his seat while the director recounted his achievements to the entire staff.

Usage: Commonly follows 'feel' or 'be'; often takes 'about' for the cause or 'to' before an infinitive verb.

Teaching tip: Learners often confuse this with 'pregnant' in Romance languages (e.g., Spanish 'embarazada'). Always clarify that in English it only refers to social discomfort.

### 2. having money problems

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Archaic

having a lot of debt or not enough money to pay what you owe.

For teachers: beset by financial difficulties or heavily burdened by debt. Usually appears in the phrase 'financially embarrassed'.

- The old family was financially embarrassed and had to sell their large house.
- The firm found itself somewhat embarrassed by a sudden lack of liquidity, forcing the partners to seek an emergency loan to cover the month's payroll.

Usage: Almost exclusively used with the adverb 'financially'.

Teaching tip: This sense is rare in modern speech and mostly found in 19th-century literature or very formal, old-fashioned financial reports.

## Examples

- I felt so embarrassed when I forgot her name.
- He was deeply embarrassed by his father's loud behavior at the formal dinner party.
- While some people thrive in the spotlight, others become acutely embarrassed when they are the center of attention, even if the occasion is a celebration of their own achievements.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.