embarrass
ihm-BA-ruhs
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.”
verb
1
To make someone feel awkward, ashamed, or self-conscious, often in front of others.
"His father embarrassed him by singing loudly in the restaurant."
"The mistake embarrassed the whole department."
2
To cause financial or practical difficulty for someone.
"The unexpected costs embarrassed the small business badly."
How to use embarrass
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cause someone to feel awkward or ashamed, usually in a public or social situation.
Common mistake
Commonly misspelled with only one "r" or one "s" — remember it's double "r" and double "s": em-barr-ass.
Common pairings
embarrass yourself
embarrass someone publicly
deeply embarrassed
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- embarrasses
- Past tense
- embarrassed
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.
