Embarrassment is that uncomfortable, self-conscious feeling you get when something awkward or humiliating happens to you in front of others. Maybe you tripped and fell in the cafeteria while carrying your lunch tray, or you confidently gave a wrong answer in class, or your mom told an embarrassing story about you at a family dinner. That hot, squirmy feeling where you wish you could disappear? That's embarrassment.

Everyone experiences embarrassment, though what embarrasses one person might not bother another. Some kids feel embarrassed when they're singled out for praise, while others feel embarrassed only when they make obvious mistakes. The feeling usually involves worrying about what others think of you.

Embarrassment typically passes quickly, especially when you realize that most people forget small awkward moments almost immediately. What feels like a huge deal to you in the moment often barely registers with others, who are usually too busy worrying about their own potential embarrassments to dwell on yours.

The word can also refer to something that causes shame or makes someone look bad: “The team's terrible performance was an embarrassment.” When something is described as an embarrassment, it means the thing itself reflects poorly on someone or something.