shoe

noun

\ ˈshü

Definition of shoe

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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

4 : a device that retards, stops, or controls the motion of an object especially : the part of a brake that presses on the brake drum

5a : 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

shoe

verb

shod\ ˈshäd

\ also shoed\ ˈshüd

\; shoeing\ ˈshü-iŋ

Definition of shoe (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to furnish with a shoe

2 : to cover for protection, strength, or ornament

Other Words from shoe More Example Sentences Learn More about shoe

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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.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun In the beginning, sport utility vehicles were originally bred as beasts of burden with real jobs to do but, for decades now, the SUVs from the Silver Star have become fashion accessories, most never dipping a shoe into anything dirtier than asphalt. — Robert Ross, Robb Report, "Drive Review: Why These Two Mercedes SUVs Belong in the Same Garage," 1 Apr. 2021 Then, the Mudlark, a shoe Toogood imagines would be worn by an archaeologist mucking around for ancient artifacts by the river. — Elise Taylor, Vogue, "Faye Toogood and Birkenstock Collaborate on a Puffy Yet Practical Shoe," 1 Apr. 2021 Along with five players still in the transfer portal, Jackson-Davis is the biggest shoe yet to drop for IU basketball. — Jon Blau, The Indianapolis Star, "IU basketball coach Mike Woodson desperately wants Trayce Jackson-Davis to stay," 31 Mar. 2021 The voluminous Air unit and sock-like fit bring modern comfort to a shoe inspired by the ’91 Air Max 180. — oregonlive, "It’s Nike Air Max Day 2021: Classics or new releases, which pair is your favorite?," 26 Mar. 2021 Last year New Balance collaborated with Japanese outdoor label Snow Peak on a space-agey $300 shoe. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, "$300 for Hiking Shoes? Why Outdoorsy Types Are Splurging," 24 Mar. 2021 Don’t be fooled by its good looks—this is a serious running shoe with a breathable mesh upper, Asics’ new Flytefoam Blast midsole, and supportive rubber outsole. — Nicola Fumo, Forbes, "10 Incredibly Cute Sneakers For Spring, From Casual To Active," 19 Mar. 2021 An important part of everyone’s footwear collection is a proper casual shoe designed for daily use, offering comfort and style that’s suited for most occasions. — Anthony Marcusa, chicagotribune.com, "The best men’s TOMS shoe," 19 Mar. 2021 When a shoe begins to wear down, the support and cushioning becomes less effective. — Talya Minsberg New York Times, Star Tribune, "Is it time to upgrade your running shoes?," 19 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In recent years, the European Union was seen as a likely contender to fill the collaborator shoes the U.S. has recently left unoccupied. — Justin Worland, Time, "The U.S. Relationship With China Is in Trouble. That's a Challenge for Climate Change," 21 May 2020 And amazingly, the GT shadowed the 600LT on the skidpad, pulling 1.01 g's to its Pirelli P Zero Trofeo R–shod brother's 1.11 g's. — John Pearley Huffman, Car and Driver, "The Great Compromise: McLaren 600LT vs. GT," 29 Apr. 2020 One of them, a blacksmith, was disowned for shoeing a war horse. — New York Times, "‘Miss Aluminum,’ by Susanna Moore: An Excerpt," 14 Apr. 2020 Pretty much every outdoor winter sport was available, including the aforementioned snow-shoeing excursion with Juha Tuunanen, the hotel’s CEO who offered us a fire-building lesson—a necessary survival skill for any Lapland resident. — Caitlin Morton, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Solo Trip to the Arctic Helped Me Find Comfort Among Strangers," 12 Feb. 2020 Turbolook seventeen-inch wheels shod with Pirelli P700-Z tires (255/40ZR-17s in the back and 205/50ZR-17s up front) provide enough grip for 0.87 g of lateral acceleration. — Martin Padgett, Car and Driver, "1993 Porsche 911 Speedster Road Test," 27 Mar. 2020 These cleats come in extra small, small, medium, and large, which fits women shoe sizes 2.5 to 15 and men shoe sizes 1 to 13.5. — Popular Science, "Ice cleats to help you on slippery, cold walkways," 5 Feb. 2020 This is the fourth lawsuit Nike has filed against Skechers, including one that accused Skechers of copying the iconic Chuck Taylor shoes that’s been simmering for five years. — BostonGlobe.com, "MullenLowe and Mediahub moving to the Seaport," 29 Oct. 2019 Shari Redstone, who stepped into her father’s shoes some time ago, will be the new chair of the board. — Washington Post, "CBS and Viacom Reunite Just in Time for a Media Fight," 14 Aug. 2019

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

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Last Updated

5 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Shoe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoe. Accessed 10 Apr. 2021.

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More Definitions for shoe

shoe

noun

English Language Learners Definition of shoe

(Entry 1 of 2)

: an outer covering for your foot that usually has a stiff bottom part called a sole with a thicker part called a heel attached to it and an upper part that covers part or all of the top of your foot

: another person's situation or position

: a flat U-shaped piece of iron that is nailed to the bottom of a horse's hoof

shoe

verb

English Language Learners Definition of shoe (Entry 2 of 2)

: to put a horseshoe on (a horse)

See the full definition for shoe in the English Language Learners Dictionary

shoe

noun

\ ˈshü