embarrass

/ɪmˈbærəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪmˈbærəs/ (ame, ipa) · /im-ˈber-əs -ˈba-rəs/ (ame, mw)

embarrass — verb

  • embarrasspresent simple I / you / we / they
  • embarrasseshe / she / it
  • embarrassedpast simple
  • embarrassing-ing form

1. To make someone feel awkward or ashamed by doing or saying something in a situat

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

To make someone feel awkward or ashamed by doing or saying something in a situation where others are aware of it, especially when the person wishes the matter were private.

例句

Salma's father embarrassed her by showing old baby photos to her new friends.

embarrass + someone + by + [action/thing shown]

Imran felt deeply embarrassed when he called his teacher 'Mom' in front of everyone.

felt + embarrassed + when + [situation]

同義詞
  • humiliate

    Stronger than embarrass; implies making someone feel utterly foolish or degraded, often in public

  • mortify

    Formal; suggests extreme embarrassment that feels almost unbearable

  • shame

    Focuses on causing someone to feel moral or social disgrace rather than just awkwardness

反義詞
  • praise

    To express approval, which is the opposite of making someone feel awkward or ashamed

  • honour

    To treat with respect and admiration rather than causing discomfort

文法句型

embarrass + someone

embarrass + oneself

embarrass + someone + by + -ing form

用法筆記

This is by far the most common meaning. The subject is usually a person, an action, or a situation that draws unwanted attention. The pattern 'embarrass oneself' is used when someone causes their own awkward situation through a mistake or clumsy action.

常見錯誤

❌I embarrassed when I fell on stage.
✅I felt embarrassed when I fell on stage.
💡'embarrassed' is an adjective and needs a linking verb like 'feel' or 'be'. The verb 'embarrass' must take an object: 'The fall embarrassed me.'
❌He embarrassed to ask the question.
✅He was too embarrassed to ask the question.
💡'embarrassed' as an adjective requires the verb 'to be'; the pattern is 'be embarrassed + to + verb'.

2. To create problems or obstacles that slow down or block the progress of a plan,

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

To create problems or obstacles that slow down or block the progress of a plan, process, or activity, making it harder for something to succeed or continue.

例句

The lack of research funding seriously embarrassed the lab's plans for a second clinical trial.

A series of equipment failures embarrassed the company's launch of the new product line.

embarrass + [company's/institution's] + [plan/process] — formal pattern

同義詞
  • hinder

    A more common and neutral word for slowing progress; less formal than this sense of embarrass

  • impede

    Similar formality level; suggests active interference with movement or progress

  • hamper

    Emphasises that something is made more difficult or awkward to do

反義詞
  • facilitate

    To make a process easier or smoother, the opposite of creating obstacles

  • promote

    To actively support or encourage progress

文法句型

embarrass + [abstract noun phrase]

embarrass + [someone's] + [plan/effort]

用法筆記

This sense is formal and far less common than the emotional sense (sense 1). It is mostly used in written or formal speech about politics, business, and logistics. The object is almost always an abstract noun such as plan, effort, schedule, or progress. Do not confuse with the everyday emotional meaning.

常見錯誤

❌The heavy traffic embarrassed me to arrive late.
✅The heavy traffic delayed my arrival.
💡In this formal sense, 'embarrass' is not used with a person as its object to mean 'cause delay'. Use 'delay' or 'hinder' instead.