When someone acts "coyly," it means they are behaving in a shy, modest, or flirtatious manner. They might be pretending to be hesitant or reserved, often with the intention of being charming or alluring to others.

Imagine a situation where someone receives a compliment about their appearance. If they respond "coyly," it means they might smile shyly, look away playfully, or respond in a manner that suggests they are being modest or slightly hesitant about accepting the compliment, possibly to appear more appealing or attractive to the person giving the compliment.

"Coyly" is often used in social or romantic contexts when someone is trying to be subtly flirtatious or captivating. It's a way of showing interest or engaging with someone in a teasing, charming manner.

Example sentences

  1. Sarah looked at him coyly from across the room, making his heart skip a beat.
  2. When asked about her talents, she responded coyly, trying to downplay her impressive abilities.
  3. The child hid behind the door and peeked out coyly, playing a game of hide-and-seek with her friends.
  4. He complimented her cooking skills, and she blushed coyly, thanking him for the kind words.
  5. The actor answered the interviewer's questions coyly, leaving the audience intrigued about his upcoming project.
  6. During the party, she danced coyly with different partners, leaving a trail of admirers in her wake.
  7. As the sun set, they strolled along the beach, holding hands and exchanging coyly glances.
  8. Whenever she was complimented on her artwork, she would respond coyly, claiming she was just a beginner.
  9. He noticed her playing with her hair coyly while engaged in the conversation, a subtle sign of her interest.
  10. The cat approached the toy mouse coyly, trying to act nonchalant before pouncing on it playfully.

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Reference:

coyly
1. in a way that intentionally tries to keep something secret: 2. in a way…
coyly adverb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com
Definition of coyly adverb in Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.