shimmy

noun shim·my \ ˈshi-mē \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Examples: shimmy in a Sentence

Definition of shimmy

plural shimmies

[by alteration]

: chemise

[short for shimmy-shake]

: a jazz dance characterized by a shaking of the body from the shoulders down

3 : an abnormal vibration especially in the front wheels of a motor vehicle

Recent Examples of shimmy from the Web

In the video, which dropped Tuesday morning—just hours after the exuberance of Memorial Day barbecues finally faded into workweek torpor—a visibly pregnant Cardi shimmies down the block, adorned in jewel tones and copious statement jewelry.

— hannah giorgis, The Atlantic, "Cardi B’s ‘I Like It’ Is the Song of the Summer," 29 May 2018
The point guard reacted with a shimmy as Curry ran by him.

— jenna west, SI.com, "Watch: Chris Paul Shimmies in Stephen Curry's Face After Hitting a Three," 24 May 2018
Ere long a torch song singer was crooning some Jazz Age hits and the dance floor was crowded with flappers in fringed black shimmy frocks and their tuxedoed swains, giving us full-on Chicago in New York.

— hamish bowles, Vogue, "Hamish Bowles Goes Inside Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda and Sartoria Events in New York City," 9 Apr. 2018
Sliding on his knees across the grass, Suarez finished up his moment of self-congratulation with an exuberant shimmy, leading some online to bring out comparisons with famously charismatic performer Freddie Mercury.

— raisa bruner, Time, "Uruguayan Soccer Player's Post-Goal Dance Has All the Right Moves," 25 June 2018
The Rockets’ Chris Paul came to life, at one point sinking a ridiculously difficult three-pointer over Curry, then following that up by imitating Steph’s signature shimmy.

— al saracevic, San Francisco Chronicle, "Warriors in a tough spot: The brink of elimination," 24 May 2018
An isolation three up top over James Harden, with Curry toying with his fellow star before pulling up from long range and giving a trademark shimmy on his way down the floor.

— sam amick, USA TODAY, "Steph Curry cooks as Warriors dominate Rockets in Game 3 of Western Conference finals," 20 May 2018
To make matters more sensitive, Madonna shimmies and grooves in a cleavage-baring slip dress with the straps louche-ly sliding off.

— liana satenstein, Vogue, "The Story Behind Madonna’s Slip Dress in Her Most Controversial Music Video, “Like a Prayer”," 3 May 2018
Their unabashed celebrating prompted a retaliation shimmy from Chris Paul.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "Warriors' Greatness May Annoy Some but They Aren't Going Anywhere," 9 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shimmy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of shimmy

1837

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Dance Terms

attitude, honor, saltatory, sashay, taw

shimmy

verb

Definition of shimmy

shimmied; shimmying

intransitive verb

1 : to shake, quiver, or tremble in or as if in dancing a shimmy

2 : to vibrate abnormally —used especially of automobiles

3 : shinny

See shimmy defined for English-language learners

Examples of shimmy in a Sentence

They were shimmying on the dance floor.
I shimmied into my jacket.
One of the car's wheels was shimmying.

Recent Examples of shimmy from the Web

That trip involved lots of shimmying and scrambling across uneven rock slabs and ledges, plus off-trail maneuvers.

— kelly bastone, Outside Online, "The Best Women’s Backpacking Packs," 13 July 2018
After scoring several hit singles and a trio of Grammy noms behind his 2015 debut The Chaos and the Calm, the English singer-songwriter shimmied toward sparkly, amped-up rock 'n' roll on last month's Electric Love.

— chris payne, Billboard, "#AlternativeFacts Podcast: What Drives James Bay's Restless Reinvention," 1 June 2018
Punk rock dancers stuck out their tongues and shimmied with their shoulders without a care, and P!nk raised herself too -- quite literally.

— heran mamo, Billboard, "P!nk Sings 'Just a Girl' With Gwen Stefani & 6 More Highlights From LA Concert," 1 June 2018
The clips, shot by users, range from a dexterous noodle-maker in Chongqing to a shimmying peacock in a bamboo grove, all set to music.

— The Economist, "A Chinese music-video app is making WeChat sweat," 12 July 2018
But that didn’t stop the boy band from bringing their shoulder-shimmying jam to the 2018 CMT Music Awards.

— joe lynch, Billboard, "Backstreet Boys Deliver 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' at CMT Music Awards," 6 June 2018
Against the backdrop of some of the Met's most iconic exhibition spaces, partygoers shimmied, strutted, posed, preened, and played in perfect harmony with medieval, Renaissance, classical Greek and Roman paintings and sculptures.

— bridget read, Vogue, "The Met Gala Turned Into a Giant Dance Party, and It's All on Instagram," 8 May 2018
Yara Shahidi shimmied alongside friends Phoebe Pojo and Samia Hampstead, only after her pale lilac pout was perfected, of course, while Luka Sabbat was caught grooming his moustache and thick arches with utter swagger.

— lauren valenti, Vogue, "Watch Yara Shahidi, Lily Collins, and More Stars Touch Up Their Met Gala After-Party Makeup," 9 May 2018
For attendees who didn't the get memo, 81 seasonal looks by Valentino, Victoria Beckham, Monique Lhuillier, Elie Saab, Fendi, Marchesa, Oscar de la Renta and more shimmied down the runway.

— amber elliott, Houston Chronicle, "VIP view: Inside Tootsies' "Spring is Served" Fashion Show & Lunch at River Oaks Country Club," 11 Apr. 2018