shoulder

American  

[shohl-der] / ˈʃoʊl dər /

noun

• shoulders
  plural

1. the part of each side of the body in humans, at the top of the trunk, extending from each side of the base of the neck to the region where the arm articulates with the trunk.

2. Usually shoulders these two parts together with the part of the back joining them.

3. a corresponding part in animals.

4. the upper foreleg and adjoining parts of a sheep, goat, etc.

5. the joint connecting the arm or the foreleg with the trunk.

6. a shoulderlike part or projection.

7. Ornithology. the bend of a bird's wing, between the hand and the forearm, especially when distinctively colored, as in the red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus.

8. a cut of meat that includes the upper joint of the foreleg.

9. Informal. Often shoulders capacity for bearing responsibility or blame or sympathizing with other people.

   If you want to tell me your troubles, I have broad shoulders.

10. a steplike change in the contour of an object, as for opposing or limiting motion along it or for an abutment.

11. Carpentry.

    1. the end surface or surfaces of a piece from which a tenon or tenons project.

    2. an inclined and raised surface, as on a joggle post, for receiving and supporting the foot of a strut or the like.

12. Fortification. the angle of a bastion between the face and the flank.

13. Printing. the flat surface on a type body extending beyond the base of the letter or character.

14. the part of a garment that covers, or fits over, the shoulder.

15. (in leather manufacturing) that part of the hide anterior to the butt.

16. either of the two edges or borders along a road, especially that portion on which vehicles can be parked in emergencies.

17. shoulder season.

18. Furniture. knee.

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verb (used with object)

• shoulders,
  present (3rd person singular)
• shouldered,
  past participle,  past
• shouldering
  present participle

1. to push with or as if with the shoulder, especially roughly.

   to shoulder someone aside.

2. to take upon, support, or carry on or as if on the shoulder or shoulders.

   He shouldered his knapsack and walked on.

3. to assume as a responsibility.

   to shoulder the expense.

   Synonyms:

   take on, bear, accept

verb (used without object)

• shoulders,
  present (3rd person singular)
• shouldered,
  past participle,  past
• shouldering
  present participle

1. to push with or as if with the shoulder.

   to shoulder through a crowd.

idioms

1. cry on someone's shoulder, to reveal one's problems to another person in order to obtain sympathy.

   Don't cry on my shoulder—this mess is your own fault.

2. put one's shoulder to the wheel, to work energetically toward a goal; put forth effort.

   If we put our shoulders to the wheel, we'll be able to finish the job soon.

3. straight from the shoulder, without evasion; directly; candidly.

   The lawyer told him straight from the shoulder that his case was weak.

4. shoulder to shoulder, side by side; with united effort.

   The volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder with the locals in harvesting the crops.

5. shoulder arms,

   1. to place a rifle muzzle upward on the right or left shoulder, with the buttstock in the corresponding hand.

   2. the command to shoulder arms.

6. rub shoulders with, to come into association with; mingle with.

   The gallery was a space where bohemian artists would rub shoulders with both affluent collectors and the general public.

shoulder British  

/ ˈʃəʊldə /

noun

1. the part of the vertebrate body where the arm or a corresponding forelimb joins the trunk: the pectoral girdle and associated structures

2. the joint at the junction of the forelimb with the pectoral girdle

3. a cut of meat including the upper part of the foreleg

4. printing the flat surface of a piece of type from which the face rises

5. tanning the portion of a hide covering the shoulders and neck of the animal, usually including the cheeks

6. the part of a garment that covers the shoulder

7. anything that resembles a shoulder in shape or position

8. the strip of unpaved land that borders a road

9. engineering a substantial projection or abrupt change in shape or diameter designed to withstand thrust

10. photog the portion of the characteristic curve of a photographic material indicating the maximum density that can be produced on the material

11. jewellery the part of a ring where the shank joins the setting

12. a person one turns to for sympathy with one's troubles

13. informal

    1. to treat someone in a cold manner; snub

    2. to ignore or shun someone

14. informal to work very hard

15. See rub

16. 1. side by side or close together

    2. in a corporate effort

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verb

1. (tr) to bear or carry (a burden, responsibility, etc) as if on one's shoulders

2. to push (something) with or as if with the shoulder

3. (tr) to lift or carry on the shoulders

4. military to bring the rifle vertically close to the right side with the muzzle uppermost and held at the trigger guard

shoulder More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing shoulder

• broad shoulders
• chip on one's shoulder
• cold shoulder
• cry on someone's shoulder
• good head on one's shoulders
• head and shoulders above
• on one's shoulders
• put one's shoulder to the wheel
• rub elbows (shoulders) with
• shrug one's shoulders
• square one's shoulders
• straight from the shoulder
• weight of the world on one's shoulders

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• outshoulder
  verb (used with object)
• reshoulder
  verb (used with object)
• unshouldered
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• shoulders
  plural

Participles

• shouldering
  present
• shouldered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• shoulder
  simple
• shoulders
  simple
• have shouldered
  perfect
• has shouldered
  perfect
• am shouldering
  progressive
• are shouldering
  progressive
• is shouldering
  progressive
• have been shouldering
  perfect progressive
• has been shouldering
  perfect progressive

Past

• shouldered
  simple
• had shouldered
  perfect
• was shouldering
  progressive
• were shouldering
  progressive
• had been shouldering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will shoulder
  simple
• will have shouldered
  perfect
• will be shouldering
  progressive
• will have been shouldering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of shoulder

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun sholder, s(c)hulder, Old English sculdor; cognate with Dutch schouder, German Schulter; the verb is derivative of the noun

Explanation

Your shoulders are at the very top of your arms, where they meet your neck. When you shrug your shoulders, you lift them to convey indifference or the fact that you don't know the answer. Human shoulders are versatile ball-and-socket joints that are flexible but sturdy enough to allow for lifting heavy objects. Another kind of shoulder is the strip at the side of a road where you can pull your car over in an emergency. This word is also used as a verb, for literally or figuratively carrying heavy burdens: "You shoulder so much responsibility at work — they should give you a raise!" Give someone "the cold shoulder," and you're deliberately being unfriendly to them.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shoulder shoulders shouldered shouldering

But thrust “Transamerica” 21 years into the future, and watch as it shakes off “outdated” and “problematic” from either side of Bree’s pristine lavender shoulder pads.

From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026

All of this has left a community that has long felt beleagured looking over its shoulder again.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

While the scope of the trade war could widen with new tariffs, both economies likely can shoulder the burden of the current levies, at least for a time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

Singer and songwriter Brandi Carlile called Parton “an angel on my shoulder and also the devil on my other shoulder.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

I give in to all my feelings then, and let my head fall against his shoulder.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

After so long on the road, driving past despair dotted along the road’s shoulders, Day brushes off a cry for help with a joke.

From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026

Nonetheless, three months and thousands of dollars in legal fees later, Holt acknowledged the event for what it turned into: “An extra weight on my shoulders that I was carrying throughout the semester.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026

There is a lot of pressure and expectation on his shoulders but he is a brilliant player and it just seems like he'll be able to cope with that.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Cross your arms over your chest so that your hands rest on opposite shoulders.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

The black rags of his ruined shirt clung to his heavy shoulders.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

"Since the creation of the SDF, its fighters have shouldered a heavy responsibility during one of the most difficult periods" for Syria, Abdi said in his address.

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

And it was really fun to catch up with him, especially considering how much he’s shouldered in portraying Dr. Michael Rabinovitch, a.k.a.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

After Sabarsky died in 1996, Lauder shouldered on, renovating the ornate space with its grand staircase and adding a Viennese-style cafe on the ground floor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

"Unpaid carers have shouldered heavy burdens for too long and the evidence is clear - Wales must do far better by those at the heart of our care system," said committee chair Peter Fox MS.

From BBC ● Mar. 31, 2026

I shouldered my bag and hurried for the door.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson

The sale process comes just eight months on from Khun Top saying he is shouldering the blame for the club's drastic recent demise.

From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026

At the same time, households face growing difficulty shouldering rising home insurance costs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

A look at the recent rally in the $30 trillion Treasury market reflects concerns about the ability of U.S. families and businesses to keep shouldering higher fuel costs.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 2, 2026

Bursting into Kenna’s quarters seemingly at will, she raids her near-empty fridge while bluntly shouldering much of the exposition.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 12, 2026

Another of the experts, Barnum Brown of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, took over the excavations, shouldering Figgins aside.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• accept
• assume