shuffle

[ shuhf-uhl ]
See synonyms for: shuffleshuffledshuffling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object),shuf·fled, shuf·fling.
  1. to walk without lifting the feet or with clumsy steps and a shambling gait.

  2. to scrape the feet over the floor in dancing.

  1. to move clumsily (usually followed by into): to shuffle into one's clothes.

  2. to act underhandedly or evasively with respect to a stated situation (often followed by in, into, or out of): to shuffle out of one's responsibilities.

  3. to intermix so as to change the relative positions of cards in a pack.

verb (used with object),shuf·fled, shuf·fling.
  1. to move (one's feet) along the ground or floor without lifting them.

  2. to perform (a dance) with such movements.

  1. to move (an object or objects) this way and that.

  2. to put, thrust, or bring trickily, evasively, or haphazardly (usually followed by in, into, out, etc.): to shuffle one's way into favor.

  3. to mix (cards in a pack) so as to change the relative positions.

  4. to jumble together, mix, or interchange the positions of (objects).

noun
  1. a scraping movement; dragging gait.

  2. an evasive trick; evasion.

  1. an act or instance of shuffling.

  2. Cards.

    • a shuffling of cards in a pack.

    • the right or turn to shuffle preparatory to dealing: You win the shuffle.

  3. a dance in which the feet are shuffled along the floor.

Verb Phrases
  1. shuffle off,

    • to thrust aside; get rid of.

    • to move away by, or as if by, shuffling: They shuffled off to school with little enthusiasm.

Origin of shuffle

1
1525–35; <Low German schuffeln to walk clumsily or with dragging feet, mix (cards); akin to shovel

Other words for shuffle

Other words from shuffle

  • re·shuf·fle, verb re·shuf·fled, re·shuf·fling, noun
  • un·shuf·fled, adjective

Words Nearby shuffle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use shuffle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for shuffle

shuffle

/ (ˈʃʌfəl) /


verb
  1. to walk or move (the feet) with a slow dragging motion

  2. to change the position of (something), esp quickly or in order to deceive others

  1. (tr) to mix together in a careless manner: he shuffled the papers nervously

  2. to mix up (cards in a pack) to change their order

  3. (intr) to behave in an awkward, evasive, or underhand manner; equivocate

  4. (when intr, often foll by into or out of) to move or cause to move clumsily: he shuffled out of the door

  5. (intr) to dance the shuffle

noun
  1. the act or an instance of shuffling

  2. a dance or dance step with short dragging movements of the feet

Origin of shuffle

1
C16: probably from Low German schüffeln; see shove

Derived forms of shuffle

  • shuffler, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012