shuttle

American  

[shuht-l] / ˈʃʌt l /

noun

1. a device in a loom for passing or shooting the weft thread through the shed from one side of the web to the other, usually consisting of a boat-shaped piece of wood containing a bobbin on which the weft thread is wound.

2. the sliding container that carries the lower thread in a sewing machine.

3. a public conveyance, as a train, airplane, or bus, that travels back and forth at regular intervals over a particular route, especially a short route or one connecting two transportation systems.

4. shuttlecock.

5. (often initial capital letter) space shuttle.

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verb (used with object)

shuttles, present (3rd person singular) shuttled, past participle, past shuttling present participle

1. to cause (someone or something) to move to and fro or back and forth by or as if by a shuttle.

   They shuttled me all over the seventh floor.

verb (used without object)

shuttles, present (3rd person singular) shuttled, past participle, past shuttling present participle

1. to move to and fro.

   constantly shuttling between city and suburb.

shuttle British  

/ ˈʃʌtəl /

noun

1. a bobbin-like device used in weaving for passing the weft thread between the warp threads

2. a small bobbin-like device used to hold the thread in a sewing machine or in tatting, knitting, etc

3. 1. a bus, train, aircraft, etc, that plies between two points, esp one that offers a frequent service over a short route

   2. short for space shuttle

4. 1. the movement between various countries of a diplomat in order to negotiate with rulers who refuse to meet each other

   2. ( as modifier )

      shuttle diplomacy

5. badminton short for shuttlecock

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verb

1. to move or cause to move by or as if by a shuttle

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• shuttlelike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• shuttling
  present
• shuttled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• shuttle
  simple
• shuttles
  simple
• have shuttled
  perfect
• has shuttled
  perfect
• am shuttling
  progressive
• are shuttling
  progressive
• is shuttling
  progressive
• have been shuttling
  perfect progressive
• has been shuttling
  perfect progressive

Past

• shuttled
  simple
• had shuttled
  perfect
• was shuttling
  progressive
• were shuttling
  progressive
• had been shuttling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will shuttle
  simple
• will have shuttled
  perfect
• will be shuttling
  progressive
• will have been shuttling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of shuttle

before 900; Middle English shotil (noun), Old English scytel dart, arrow; cognate with Old Norse skutill harpoon; akin to shut, shoot ¹

Explanation

A shuttle runs between two or more places regularly. The benefit to staying at a hotel close to the airport is that you can take a shuttle, or a regular bus that travels back and forth, to catch your plane in the morning. Airport shuttles are often buses, although they can also be trains, vans, or any other form of transportation. Some airplanes are shuttles, flying passengers on quick trips. You can also use the word shuttle as a verb, to describe what the bus itself does as it moves back and forth. The original meaning of shuttle is the part of a hand loom that moves to and fro in weaving.

Example Sentences

In their TUT hall of fame: A Challenger space shuttle replica made of shells, which they purchased in Orlando.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

"I probably wouldn't have come if the shuttle bus didn't drop us off here, but otherwise, it's nice," added the civil servant, wearing his country's white jersey.

From Barron's • Jun. 27, 2026

For Jens Jenuwein, from Stuttgart, the mall was another American adventure after he traveled there on a yellow school bus -- utilized by transit authorities to shuttle fans from New York.

From Barron's • Jun. 27, 2026

When it debuts, the gallery will be the only place in the world with a complete shuttle stack, including orbiter, solid rocket boosters and an external tank.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

I’ve taken plenty of transports on school field trips, but this is no public-school shuttle.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Related Words

• airplane
• plane
• shuttle bus
• spacecraft
• train