shuffle

American  

[shuhf-uhl] / ˈʃʌf əl /

verb (used without object)

• shuffles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• shuffled,
  past participle,  past
• shuffling
  present participle

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.

3. to move clumsily (usually followed byinto ).

   to shuffle into one's clothes.

4. to act underhandedly or evasively with respect to a stated situation (often followed by in, into, orout of ).

   to shuffle out of one's responsibilities.

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

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verb (used with object)

• shuffles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• shuffled,
  past participle,  past
• shuffling
  present participle

1. to move (one's feet) along the ground or floor without lifting them.

   Synonyms:

   scuff, scrape, drag

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

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

4. to put, thrust, or bring trickily, evasively, or haphazardly (usually followed by in, into, out, etc.).

   to shuffle one's way into favor.

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

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

noun

• shuffles
  plural

1. a scraping movement; dragging gait.

2. an evasive trick; evasion.

3. an act or instance of shuffling.

4. Cards.

   1. a shuffling of cards in a pack.

   2. the right or turn to shuffle preparatory to dealing.

      You win the shuffle.

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

verb phrase

1. shuffle off

   1. to thrust aside; get rid of.

   2. to move away by, or as if by, shuffling.

      They shuffled off to school with little enthusiasm.

shuffle British  

/ 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

3. (tr) to mix together in a careless manner

   he shuffled the papers nervously

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

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

6. to move or cause to move clumsily

   he shuffled out of the door

7. (intr) to dance the shuffle

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noun

1. the act or an instance of shuffling

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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• shuffler
  noun
• reshuffle
  verb
• unshuffled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• shuffles
  plural

Participles

• shuffling
  present
• shuffled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• shuffle
  simple
• shuffles
  simple
• have shuffled
  perfect
• has shuffled
  perfect
• am shuffling
  progressive
• are shuffling
  progressive
• is shuffling
  progressive
• have been shuffling
  perfect progressive
• has been shuffling
  perfect progressive

Past

• shuffled
  simple
• had shuffled
  perfect
• was shuffling
  progressive
• were shuffling
  progressive
• had been shuffling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will shuffle
  simple
• will have shuffled
  perfect
• will be shuffling
  progressive
• will have been shuffling
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of shuffle

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

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Explanation

To shuffle is to drag your feet slowly along the ground as you walk. A kid might shuffle reluctantly off to his room only after being told five times that it's bedtime. Shuffle also means to wiggle around, like if you shuffle uncomfortably in your seat while watching a five-hour movie. If you get lost in the shuffle, you’re lost in the crowd. Another way to use shuffle is to mean "mix up in a random way," as you do with a deck of cards before dealing a hand. Shuffle probably comes from the Low German word schuffeln, which means both "to walk clumsily" and "to deal dishonestly."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

shuffle shuffles shuffled shuffling

"We managed to to shuffle things around really calmly, with good leadership from the people on the pitch, and it was really pleasing to get through that adversity."

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

Tourtsakis had me lie down and shuffle upward until the pyramid’s center was over my hips.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

There will be a casting shuffle between seasons for the character of Ginny Weasley, member of the ginger clan and Harry’s future love interest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

Plus, JetBlue’s fare shuffle and a Paris airport taxi scam.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

My vision is still okay with lots of light, but by twilight I have to shuffle my way around even at home, or trip and die on one of Javier’s toys.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

The eight-speed transmission shuffles up to overdrive as soon as the throttle pressure slackens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

Heineken’s move is the latest of CEO shuffles in the food and beverage industries.

From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026

Before they can think about how uncomfortable it would be to live in that world, the endless scroll shuffles them along to another pristine box.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2025

Iron-straight defence, dabs to third man and shuffles off the hips.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2025

She shuffles through her notebook and finds a part she highlighted in pink.

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King

Venegas scrolled through his phone while Penna shuffled past us to grab a drink from the office fridge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026

Jason Beaman, a Navy and Army vet, was shuffled among therapists who later left until he finally had enough.

From Salon ● Aug. 12, 2026

The company has also shuffled its lower ranks over that time.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026

Though France coach Didier Deschamps tweaked his personnel and shuffled his assortment of dazzling attackers, nothing seemed to click.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

As Sinchi shuffled around the fire with a large kettle full of water, he gasped.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

In an interview, Denise and Jeffrey’s father, Halford Fairchild, acknowledged that Jeffrey led a troubled life, shuffling in and out of jail on a variety of charges and convictions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

To accommodate his bat, the team is shuffling three of its infielders, allowing him to stay at second.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Those supports are a vital part of a long-term-care plan, and could do more to help stretch funds than any shuffling around of index funds or tax strategizing.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

If Tuchel does know his best team, he is hiding it well – and the amount of shuffling on the flanks and in defence suggests he does not.

From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026

She heard shuffling, giggling, and whispering, felt invisible fingers near her face.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

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Related Words

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