adjective

coy

koy

adjective

Shy or modest, especially in a deliberately playful or teasing way.

"She gave a coy smile but wouldn't answer the question."

"He was coy about the details of his new job."

Reluctant to give a direct answer, especially about something sensitive.

"The company remained coy about its future plans."

How to Use Coy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishShy or evasive, often flirtatiously or deliberately so.

Common mistake

Often implies a bit of pretense — someone being coy is playing at shyness rather than genuinely being shy.

Common pairings

coy smile be coy about coy response

coyer comparative, coyed past tense, coys plural, coys plural, Coys plural, coys singular, coyest superlative

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She gave a _____ smile but wouldn't answer the question.

From Old French coi, meaning "quiet" or "still," from Latin quietus — making "coy" a distant relative of "quiet" and "quit."

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