coy

CEFRB2

/kɔɪ/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Shy or pretending to be shy in a playful way.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Quiet, reserved, modest.

Examples

  • Come on, don't act so coy, I know you're into it.

  • He's coy about his income.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
4

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Reluctant to give details about something sensitive; notably prudish.

  2. Bashful, shy, retiring.

  3. Pretending shyness or modesty, especially in an insincere or flirtatious way.

More examples

In context

  • She is coy with everyone.

  • Enforced hate, / Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.

  • The ill-bred miss, the bird-brained Jill, / May simper and be coy at will; / A lady, sir, as you will find, / Keeps counsel, or she speaks her mind, / Means what she says and scorns to fence / And palter with feigned innocence.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

She gave a blank smile and refused to reveal her secret plan.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English coy, from Old French coi, earlier quei (“quiet, still”), from Latin qu(i)ētus (“resting, at rest”). Doublet of quit, quiet, quite, and quietus.