To feel nervous or lose one's nerve; to become hesitant or unsettled. Common in casual speech.
大勢の前で話すといつもビビってしまう。
I always get nervous when speaking in front of a crowd.
面接でビビらないように何度も練習した。
I practiced many times so I wouldn't get nervous in the interview.
試験の前にビビって、まったく手がつかなかった。
I panicked before the exam and couldn't focus at all.
To be startled or surprised; to be spooked. An informal way to describe a sudden frightened reaction.
夜中に物音がしてビビった。
A noise woke me in the night and I got startled.
急に後ろから呼ばれてビビったよ。
Someone suddenly called my name from behind and I jumped.
Archaic use: to be shy or bashful. This sense is mostly obsolete in modern spoken Japanese.
古い文献には、ビビるが『はにかむ』の意味で使われている例がある。
In old texts there are examples where 'ビビる' is used to mean 'to be bashful'.