shrug

American  

[shruhg] / ʃrʌg /

verb (used with object)

shrugged, shrugging

1. to raise and contract (the shoulders), expressing indifference, disdain, etc.

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verb (used without object)

shrugged, shrugging

1. to raise and contract the shoulders.

noun

1. the movement of raising and contracting the shoulders.

2. a short sweater or jacket that ends above or at the waistline.

verb phrase

1. shrug off

   1. to disregard; minimize.

      to shrug off an insult.

   2. to rid oneself of.

      to shrug off the effects of a drug.

shrug British  

/ ʃrʌɡ /

verb

1. to draw up and drop (the shoulders) abruptly in a gesture expressing indifference, contempt, ignorance, etc

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noun

1. the gesture so made

2. a woman's short jacket or close-fitting cardigan

Other Word Forms

• unshrugging
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of shrug

1350–1400; (v.) Middle English schruggen to shudder, shrug < ?; (noun) late Middle English shrugge a tug, pull, derivative of the v.

Explanation

To shrug is to raise your shoulders slightly, often to show that you're unsure or indifferent, like when you don't know the answer to a question. A shrug is a gesture that can convey a lot without words. You might shrug if you're uncertain about the plans a friend is suggesting. You may also find yourself shrugging in response to a question that you don't know the answer to or one that you don't care enough about to answer. A shrug can suggest indifference to a person or situation that you might normally find stressful, showing that you have simply decided it's not worth getting worked up over.

Example Sentences

And as for any news on what direction her fourth album might take, for once she was short of words, giving a shrug, a cheeky smile and a parting shot of: "I dunno. We'll see."

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

But Reaves, who excels at nearly every sport he attempts, including golf, bowling, tennis, pickleball and table tennis, just has great touch, Redick said with a shrug.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 15, 2026

Markets often shrug off geopolitics, and U.S. economic indicators remain strong.

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

French industry was mostly able to shrug off the impact of U.S. tariffs in 2025.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

I shrug, not knowing how to tell him that once I’m done with this notebook, I’m done with Daddy’s words.

From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist

Related Words

• bounce
• bump
• fling
• flop
• hurtle
• jolt
• lug
• snatch
• thrust
• tug
• twitch
• wiggle
• wrench
• wriggle
• wring
• yank