embarrass
Embarrass (verb) means to make someone feel awkward, ashamed, or self-conscious, often in front of others. Example: “His father embarrassed him by singing loudly in the restaurant.”
How to use embarrass
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cause someone to feel awkward or ashamed, usually in a public or social situation.
Commonly misspelled with only one "r" or one "s" — remember it's double "r" and double "s": em-barr-ass.
Word forms
embarrassed past tense, embarrasses singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His father _____ him by singing loudly in the restaurant.
Etymology
From French embarrasser, borrowed from Spanish embarazar, ultimately linked to a word meaning "bar" or "obstacle" — the original sense was to obstruct or hinder.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “embarrass” mean?
The word “embarrass” means to make someone feel awkward, ashamed, or self-conscious, often in front of others. In plain terms, to cause someone to feel awkward or ashamed, usually in a public or social situation.
How do you pronounce “embarrass”?
“Embarrass” is pronounced ihm-BA-ruhs (/ɪmˈbæɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “embarrass” in a sentence?
Here is “embarrass” used in a sentence: “His father embarrassed him by singing loudly in the restaurant.”
What part of speech is “embarrass”?
“Embarrass” is a verb.
Where does the word “embarrass” come from?
The word “embarrass” comes from French. From French embarrasser, borrowed from Spanish embarazar, ultimately linked to a word meaning "bar" or "obstacle" — the original sense was to obstruct or hinder.
Is “embarrass” a common word?
“Embarrass” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “embarrass” have?
“Embarrass” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make someone feel awkward, ashamed, or self-conscious, often in front of others.