shimmy

1 of 2

noun

shim·​my ˈshi-mē How to pronounce shimmy (audio)
plural shimmies
1
[by alteration] : chemise
2
[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

shimmy

2 of 2

verb

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

Examples of shimmy in a Sentence

Verb They were shimmying on the dance floor. I shimmied into my jacket. One of the car's wheels was shimmying.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Album artwork ends the video Swift shimmies onto a cart. Bryan West, USA Today, 5 Oct. 2025 Dressed in a black hat, black bell-bottoms, and a jacket with turquoise accents, the Louisiana country singer gave a soulful, twangy reading of the riverboat tale, effortlessly commanding the crowd with just a few shimmies and finger points. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
Cigarette jeans have been part of the aesthetic discourse since the ’80s, when Lady Diana, Cindy Crawford, and Farrah Fawcett were among the biggest advocates of shimmying into the skinnier shape. Michel Mejía, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2025 When Polanco lashed the game-winner, through the right side off a Tommy Kahnle changeup, Crawford shimmied off third with a spin. Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shimmy

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shimmy was in 1837

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Cite this Entry

“Shimmy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shimmy. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

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