plural shoes
1
a
: an outer covering for the human foot typically having a thick or stiff sole with an attached heel and an upper part of lighter material (such as leather)
b
: a metal plate or rim for the hoof of an animal
2
: something resembling a shoe in function or placement
3
shoes plural
: another's place, function, or viewpoint
steps from assistant stage manager into the star's shoes—
Steven Fuller
Steven Fuller4
: a device that slows, stops, or controls the motion of an object
especially
: the part of a brake that presses on the brake drum
5
a
: any of various devices that are inserted in or run along a track or groove to guide a movement, provide a contact or friction grip, or protect against wear, damage, or slipping
b
: a device (such as a clip or track) on a camera that permits attachment of an accessory item (such as a flash unit)
6
: a dealing box designed to hold several decks of playing cards
shoeless
adjective
Synonyms
Examples of shoe in a Sentence
Noun
She bought a pair of shoes.
He took off his shoes and socks.
I wouldn't want to be in his shoes right now.
Anyone in her shoes would have done the same thing.
Verb
The blacksmith shod the horse.
The horse was taken to be shod.
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Recent Examples on the WebDavid Begnaud, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2023
Its sculpted block heel makes this shoe not only easier to walk in, but structurally interesting to look at (a perfect combo for taking on the city streets).
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
The corduroy shoes come in baby blue, a deep chocolate brown, cream, and black.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 22 Sep. 2023
Pack walking shoes to stroll through the University of North Alabama campus, with striking architectural features and its own live lion mascot, Leo III.
—Kelsey Ogletree, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2023
The company has not said how many of those shoes remain in inventory, although the unsold shoes and Ye’s departure impacted Adidas profits.
—David Hamilton, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
The white patent leather shoes, complete with a pointed toe, feature a sweet fabric bow on the strap that holds the brand’s famous enamel inverted triangle logo in the center.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2023
The salt, which is particularly good at preserving organic remains, is thought to have kept the shoe in extremely good condition.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN, 20 Sep. 2023
In other words, these shoes are down for any adventure.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2023
Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
It’s already claimed the number spot on the site’s fashion waist packs new releases chart and is popular on the clothing, jewelry, and shoe new releases chart.
—Mia Huelsbeck, Peoplemag, 23 July 2023
Shop more Sam Edelman shoes for all your spring and summer style needs below. Buy It!
—Kayla Blanton, Peoplemag, 16 June 2023
His clock had been set that way, from decades spent shoeing horses at sunrise.
—Katie Engelhart, New York Times, 9 May 2023
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant has worn Nike basketball shoes his entire career.
—Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2023
Losing a powerful asset like that is critical, regardless of who is shoed in to replace him.
—Dallas News, 26 Feb. 2023
The royal men tend to be pretty close-lipped about their footwear choices (John Lobb is rumored to shoe many of the royal gents, but does not confirm their client list) but this pair of Black Cashmere Slippers from Arthur Sleep has been one of Prince William's go-to looks for formal events.
—Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 7 Nov. 2022
To that end, TikTok’s newsroom post on Tuesday focused on the people and businesses that use the platform, in an effort to shoe up some grassroots support, and to emphasize that a ban would impact regular people.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2023
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Noun
His job had evolved over the years, with fewer customers seeking shoe shines.
—David Begnaud, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2023
Its sculpted block heel makes this shoe not only easier to walk in, but structurally interesting to look at (a perfect combo for taking on the city streets).
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 22 Sep. 2023
The corduroy shoes come in baby blue, a deep chocolate brown, cream, and black.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 22 Sep. 2023
Pack walking shoes to stroll through the University of North Alabama campus, with striking architectural features and its own live lion mascot, Leo III.
—Kelsey Ogletree, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2023
The company has not said how many of those shoes remain in inventory, although the unsold shoes and Ye’s departure impacted Adidas profits.
—David Hamilton, Fortune, 21 Sep. 2023
The white patent leather shoes, complete with a pointed toe, feature a sweet fabric bow on the strap that holds the brand’s famous enamel inverted triangle logo in the center.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2023
The salt, which is particularly good at preserving organic remains, is thought to have kept the shoe in extremely good condition.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN, 20 Sep. 2023
In other words, these shoes are down for any adventure.
—Alexandra Domrongchai, Travel + Leisure, 20 Sep. 2023
Verb
Other anvils are designed for farriers–men and women who shoe horses and do hoof-care.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023
It’s already claimed the number spot on the site’s fashion waist packs new releases chart and is popular on the clothing, jewelry, and shoe new releases chart.
—Mia Huelsbeck, Peoplemag, 23 July 2023
Shop more Sam Edelman shoes for all your spring and summer style needs below. Buy It!
—Kayla Blanton, Peoplemag, 16 June 2023
His clock had been set that way, from decades spent shoeing horses at sunrise.
—Katie Engelhart, New York Times, 9 May 2023
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant has worn Nike basketball shoes his entire career.
—Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2023
Losing a powerful asset like that is critical, regardless of who is shoed in to replace him.
—Dallas News, 26 Feb. 2023
The royal men tend to be pretty close-lipped about their footwear choices (John Lobb is rumored to shoe many of the royal gents, but does not confirm their client list) but this pair of Black Cashmere Slippers from Arthur Sleep has been one of Prince William's go-to looks for formal events.
—Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 7 Nov. 2022
To that end, TikTok’s newsroom post on Tuesday focused on the people and businesses that use the platform, in an effort to shoe up some grassroots support, and to emphasize that a ban would impact regular people.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shoe.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English shoo, from Old English scōh; akin to Old High German scuoh shoe
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of shoe was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing shoe
Articles Related to shoe
Dictionary Entries Near shoe
Cite this Entry
“Shoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoe. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
shoe
1 of 2 noun1
a
: an outer covering for the human foot usually having a thick and somewhat stiff sole and heel and a lighter upper part
2
plural
: another's place or point of view
suppose you were in your friend's shoes
3
: the part of a brake that presses on the wheel of a vehicle
More from Merriam-Webster on shoe
Nglish: Translation of shoe for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of shoe for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about shoe
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