Shamefaced means showing embarrassment or guilt in your expression, especially after doing something wrong or foolish. When you're shamefaced, your face gives away how you feel: you might look down at your shoes, turn red, or avoid meeting anyone's eyes.

Picture a student who forgot to study for a quiz and has to admit it to the teacher, or a kid who broke their neighbor's window with a baseball and must confess. That uncomfortable, guilty look on their face is what shamefaced describes. The word captures that moment when your face betrays your feelings of shame or embarrassment, even if you wish you could hide them.

You might be shamefaced after getting caught in a lie, after saying something mean you immediately regret, or after being corrected for a careless mistake. The word suggests genuine embarrassment rather than defiance: a shamefaced person recognizes they messed up and feels bad about it, and everyone can see those feelings on their face.

Being shamefaced can sometimes mark the beginning of making things right. When someone looks shamefaced, it shows they understand what happened and care about it. That visible remorse is often the first step toward a real apology.