shame
B1Neutral to formal
Definition
Meaning
A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by consciousness of wrong or foolish behaviour, or of failing to meet a standard.
A state of disgrace or loss of reputation; a regrettable or unfortunate situation or circumstance; used to express disapproval or disappointment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun has strong emotional and moral weight. It can refer to both the internal feeling and the external state of disgrace. As a verb, it often implies causing that feeling in someone else.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is highly similar. In UK English, the interjection 'Shame!' is commonly used in public, collective contexts (e.g., in Parliament, at protests). The verb 'shame' is slightly more common in US English in contexts of public censure (e.g., 'to shame someone online').
Connotations
In UK English, the interjection 'For shame!' is archaic but still recognised. The phrase 'put to shame' is equally common in both.
Frequency
Comparatively frequent in both, with minor stylistic variations in collocations.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It is a shame (that)...feel shame at/for/about somethingbring shame on/upon someoneshame someone into doing somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shame on you!”
- “For shame!”
- “A crying shame”
- “Put someone/something to shame”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe professional disgrace or loss of corporate reputation (e.g., 'The scandal brought shame on the entire firm').
Academic
Appears in psychology, sociology, and ethics literature discussing moral emotions and social norms.
Everyday
Commonly used to express disappointment ('What a shame you can't come') or mild reprimand ('He should be ashamed of that behaviour').
Technical
Not typically a technical term outside specific fields like psychology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The newspaper article sought to shame the council into repairing the playground.
- He was shamed publicly for his comments.
American English
- The activist group shamed the company into changing its environmental policy.
- Don't try to shame me for my choices.
adverb
British English
- He shamelessly took credit for his colleague's work.
- The advert shamelessly exploited people's fears.
American English
- She shamelessly promoted her own business at the charity event.
- It was a shamelessly commercial product.
adjective
British English
- His shameful actions were condemned by all.
- It was a shameful waste of public funds.
American English
- She felt it was a shameful episode in the nation's history.
- That's a shameful way to treat a guest.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It's a shame you can't come to the party.
- The child felt shame after breaking the vase.
- He brought shame on his family with his actions.
- There's no shame in asking for help when you need it.
- The investigative report shamed the government into launching an inquiry.
- She was filled with a profound sense of shame for her mistake.
- The artist's latest work puts my own efforts to shame with its sheer brilliance.
- The campaign aimed to destigmatize mental health issues and displace the associated cultural shame.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a face turning RED with SHAME – both words share the 'AME' sound.
Conceptual Metaphor
SHAME IS A COVERING/HIDING (e.g., 'covered in shame', 'hide one's face in shame'); SHAME IS A BURDEN (e.g., 'carry the shame', 'weighed down by shame').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'shame' (стыд) with 'ashamed' (пристыженный). The Russian 'жаль' often translates to 'pity' or 'a shame' as in 'it's a pity', not the emotional state of humiliation.
- The English interjection 'Shame!' is a direct public accusation, unlike the more general Russian 'Какой позор!' which can be used for non-moral failures.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'shame' as a verb incorrectly (e.g., 'I shame' instead of 'I *feel* shame' or 'I *am* ashamed').
- Overusing 'it's a shame' for minor inconveniences where 'it's a pity' or 'unfortunately' is more appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core meaning of 'shame' as a noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Shame is a feeling about the *self* ('I am bad'), often leading to hiding. Guilt is a feeling about a specific *action* ('I did something bad'), often leading to amends.
Yes, it's a common idiom used as a strong, direct reprimand for someone's bad behaviour.
Rarely. However, in phrases like 'put to shame' it can highlight excellence by comparison. Also, 'having no shame' can be negative (impudence) or positive (confidence).
Use it to express disappointment about an unfortunate situation, similar to 'it's a pity'. Example: 'It's a shame the weather ruined the picnic.'
Collections
Part of a collection
Nuanced Emotions
C2 · 48 words · Precise vocabulary for complex emotional states.
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