Definition of 'ashamed'

Word Frequency

ashamed

(əʃeɪmd )

1. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE, ADJECTIVE that]

If someone is ashamed, they feel embarrassed or guilty because of something they do or they have done, or because of their appearance.

I felt incredibly ashamed of myself for getting so angry. [+ of]

She was ashamed that she looked so shabby.

[Also + about]

Synonyms: embarrassed, sorry, guilty, upset More Synonyms of ashamed

2. adjective

If you are ashamed of someone, you feel embarrassed to be connected with them, often because of their appearance or because you disapprove of something they have done.

I've never told this to anyone, but it's true, I was terribly ashamed of my mum. [+ of]

3. adjective

If someone is ashamed to do something, they do not want to do it because they feel embarrassed about it.

Women are often ashamed to admit they are being abused.

More Synonyms of ashamed

Video: pronunciation of
ashamed

ashamed in British English

(əˈʃeɪmd )

adjective (usually postpositive)

overcome with shame, guilt, or remorse

2. (foll by of)

suffering from feelings of inferiority or shame in relation to (a person, thing, or deed)

3. (foll by to)

unwilling through fear of humiliation, shame, etc

Derived forms

ashamedly (əˈʃeɪmɪdlɪ )

adverb

Word origin

Old English āscamod, past participle of āscamian to shame, from scamu shame

Word Frequency

ashamed in American English

(əˈʃeɪmd )

adjective

feeling shame because something bad, wrong, or foolish was done

feeling humiliated or embarrassed, as from a sense of inadequacy or inferiority

reluctant because fearing shame beforehand

SYNONYMY NOTE: ashamed implies embarrassment, and sometimes guilt, felt because of one's own or another's wrong or foolish behavior [ashamed of his tears]; humiliate implies a sense of being humbled or disgraced [humiliated by my failure]; mortify suggests humiliation so great as to seem almost fatal to one's pride or self-esteem [she was mortified by his obscenities]; chagrin verb transitive suggests embarrassment coupled usually with regret over what might have been prevented [chagrined at his error]

OPPOSITE: proud

Derived forms

ashamedly (aˈshamedly) (əˈʃeɪmɪdli )

adverb

Word origin

ME < OE asceamod, pp. of ascamian, to be ashamed < a-, a-2 + scamian < scamu, shame

Word Frequency

ashamed in American English

(əˈʃeimd)

adjective

feeling shame; distressed or embarrassed by feelings of guilt, foolishness, or disgrace

He felt ashamed for having spoken so cruelly

unwilling or restrained because of fear of shame, ridicule, or disapproval

They were ashamed to show their work

3. chiefly Midland U.S. (esp of children)

bashful; timid

Derived forms

ashamedly (əˈʃeimɪdli)

adverb

ashamedness

noun

Word origin

[bef. 1000; orig. ptp. of earlier ashame (v.) to be ashamed, ME, OE āscamian, equiv. to ā- a-3 + scamian to shame]

Examples of 'ashamed' in a sentence
ashamed

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And finally it made me feel ashamed.It makes you feel guilty and ashamed.You wouldn't be ashamed to say you like it any more.I was too nervous and the thought of it still makes me feel ashamed.I feel ashamed and disgusted with myself.I feel a bit ashamed of that.I feel very guilty and ashamed.We feel ashamed and guilty,' he said.You have no cause to feel ashamed.And why should she be ashamed to admit this?