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.

---

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

---

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

---

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

Casadaban says similar approaches are being explored for problems including frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 22, 2026

I was told it had healed diabetes sores, infertility, a frozen shoulder, and the common cold.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

During the three-month march, Hay said he once "lay down to die" after it became too painful to continue, but two friends turned back for him and lifted him with an "arm around each shoulder".

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

The game changed in the second quarter, when Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy was knocked out by a shoulder injury.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

The cowboy on the right lifts me off the perch, throwing me over his shoulder like a meal sack.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

“There are naysayers on our shoulders who hold us back, that voice of self-doubt.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026

While Severin had an extensive background in acting, singing and dancing, she has found herself learning skills she never imagined, from standing on people’s shoulders to aerial work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

Working mum-of-three Kinza Butt said the free school meals her son was now getting at Blakenhale Juniors had lifted a "burden off the shoulders".

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

He's got a very good head on his shoulders and what you don't know doesn't hurt you.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

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

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

The documentary powerfully captures the apocalyptic landscape of Gaza City, its streets reduced to rubble and mangled rebar, and the weighty sense of responsibility shouldered by the few remaining journalists on the ground.

From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026

While they had a childhood pet, their parents shouldered the responsibility and expenses, and the costs of pets were never included in lessons about personal finance.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

“For too long, cities and taxpayers have shouldered the entire cost of cleaning up pollution that comes from these large commercial properties,” said Bruce Reznik, executive director of the group Los Angeles Waterkeeper.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 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

Then I shouldered my father’s lute and began to walk.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

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

But shouldering a wobbly, expensive summer tentpole is a risk — just ask Sam Worthington or Taylor Kitsch.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 3, 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

“John! Natalie!” the voice repeated, and I turned to see Mikayla’s mom, shouldering her way through the masses, eyes trained on me.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Related Words

• accept
• assume