shuffle

verb shuf·fle \ ˈshə-fəl \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of shuffle

shuffled; shuffling play \ˈshə-f(ə-)liŋ\

transitive verb

1 : to mix in a mass confusedly : jumble

2 : to put or thrust aside or under cover

shuffled the whole matter out of his mind

3 a : to rearrange (playing cards, dominoes, tiles, etc.) to produce a random order

b : to move about, back and forth, or from one place to another : shift

shuffle funds among various accounts

4 a : to move by sliding along or back and forth without lifting

shuffle one's feet

b : to perform (something, such as a dance) with a dragging, sliding step

intransitive verb

1 : to work into or out of trickily

shuffled out of the difficulty

2 : to act or speak in a shifty or evasive manner

3 a : to move or walk in a sliding dragging manner without lifting the feet

b : to dance in a lazy nonchalant manner with sliding and tapping motions of the feet

c : to execute in a perfunctory or clumsy manner

4 : to mix playing cards or counters by shuffling

—

shuffler

play \ˈshə-f(ə-)lər\ noun

See shuffle defined for English-language learners

See shuffle defined for kids

Examples of shuffle in a Sentence

He shuffled across the floor.
She stood there, shuffling her feet, waiting for the bus to arrive.
She shuffled the papers on her desk.
The manager shuffled the batting order.
Whose turn is it to shuffle and deal?

Recent Examples of shuffle from the Web

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich shuffled Tim Duncan in and out with Bosh.

— dave hyde, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hyde: Erik Spoelstra has to be the Heat's star, night after night | Commentary," 17 Apr. 2018
Akiem Hicks shuffled into the Halas Hall media room Tuesday afternoon wearing orange-and-navy cleats and workout gear.

— rich campbell, chicagotribune.com, "Bears' Akiem Hicks savoring benefits of defensive continuity with Vic Fangio," 17 Apr. 2018
That is the nature of Kapler’s Phillies as the manager shuffles his starters instead of rolling out a set cast of regulars.

— matt breen, Philly.com, "Gabe Kapler talks it out with Maikel Franco," 13 Apr. 2018
Workers with Woodmoor Cleaners, a dry cleaning company, shuffled in and out of the homes carrying what could be saved of people’s clothing and shoes.

— christina tkacik, baltimoresun.com, "In aftermath of Hampden fire residents assess loss of some memories, revival of others," 11 Apr. 2018
Kanter shuffled his belongings around, ignored a FaceTime call from his brother and New York Knicks player Enes Kanter and offered the reporter a seat.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "Kerem Kanter savoring NCAA Tournament stage with Xavier basketball," 18 Mar. 2018
The young crew members fidgeted, shuffled to hug different friends, or wiped tears from each other’s eyes.

— xian chiang-waren, Outside Online, "Elyse Rylander Is a Trailblazer for LGBTQ Youth," 3 Apr. 2018
President Dwight Eisenhower snubbed him, and shuffled Mr. Castro off to meet with then-Vice President Richard Nixon.

— WSJ, "History Shows Peril and Promise of Trump-Kim Summit," 2 Apr. 2018
Characters are shoveled into the story with little to no introduction and shuffled out with even less fanfare.

— steven strom, Ars Technica, "Far Cry 5 review: Five steps back," 27 Mar. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of shuffle

perhaps irregular from ¹shove

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1570

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

shuffle Synonyms

shuffle

noun

Definition of shuffle

1 : an evasion of the issue : equivocation

2 a : an act of shuffling (as of cards)

b : a right or turn to shuffle

it's your shuffle

c : a confusing jumble (as of papers or events)

lost in the shuffle

3 a : a dragging sliding movement; specifically : a sliding or scraping step in dancing

b : a dance characterized by such a step

c (1) : a rhythm where each beat of the measure is played as a triplet with the first and second parts of the triplet tied and the third part accented

(2) : music played in a shuffle rhythm

See shuffle defined for English-language learners

Examples of shuffle in a Sentence

We heard the shuffle of feet outside the door.
He gave the cards a good shuffle and then dealt.

Recent Examples of shuffle from the Web

This celestial shuffle highlights your fifth house, the area of the zodiac with creativity, theatricality, and flirtation.

— aliza kelly faragher, Allure, "What This Week's Horoscope Means for You," 30 Oct. 2017
Data suggests that some New Jersey residents spend upwards of ten full days stuck in this shuffle on an annual basis.

— stephanie walden, USA TODAY, "How to make money while riding NJ transportation," 6 Sep. 2017
The shuffle is the latest at WKTI, which went country in 2015 not long after the station was purchased by E.W. Scripps Co.

— chris foran, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "WKTI names radio vet Carol Vonn to fill morning-drive hosting slot," 10 Oct. 2017
There’s a chance J.J. Nelson (Cardinals) gets lost in the shuffle as well.

— eddie brown, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Fantasy Football Week 5: Start and Sit," 5 Oct. 2017
Richmond did not move quickly, walking with something of a slow shuffle.

— kyle neddenriep, Indianapolis Star, "Notes: North Central loses it's 'phantom' basketball volunteer," 3 Sep. 2017
The week before the power shuffle, say several of the people familiar with the royal court, Mohammed bin Salman dispatched a young official named Turki al Sheikh to Washington.

— justin scheck, WSJ, "How a Saudi Prince Unseated His Cousin to Become the Kingdom’s Heir Apparent," 19 July 2017
If Castonzo doesn’t go, expect the Colts to slide Jeremy Vujnovich (who saw time at the left tackle spot in training camp and the preseason) over and shuffle from there.

— zak keefer, Indianapolis Star, "Colts vs. Texans: 5 things I think," 4 Nov. 2017
The recent shuffle leaves the Louisville Zoo with five male and six female gorillas.

— sheldon s. shafer, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville Zoo hopes to create new 'family group' with arrival of female gorilla," 11 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of shuffle

1628

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

shuffle Synonyms

Synonyms

agglomerate, agglomeration, assortment, clutter, collage, grab bag, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jumble, litter, medley, mélange, miscellany, mishmash, mixed bag, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, patchwork, potpourri, ragbag, rummage, salmagundi, scramble, smorgasbord, tumble, variety, welter;

admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up;

mess, morass, shambles;

Other Game Terms

bezique, carom, convention, crap, euchre, gambit, monte, parlay, tierce

SHUFFLE Defined for English Language Learners

shuffle

verb

Definition of shuffle for English Language Learners

: to slide your feet along the ground or back and forth without lifting them completely
: to move things or people into a different order or into different positions
: to mix (playing cards) before playing a game so that no one knows what order they are in

shuffle

noun

Definition of shuffle for English Language Learners

: the act of moving by sliding your feet without lifting them off the ground
: the act of mixing the order of playing cards : the act of shuffling cards

SHUFFLE Defined for Kids

shuffle

verb shuf·fle \ ˈshə-fəl \

Definition of shuffle for Students

shuffled; shuffling

1 : to slide back and forth without lifting

He shuffled his feet.

2 : to walk or move by sliding or dragging the feet

I just shuffled along.

3 : to mix up the order of (as playing cards)

4 : to push or move about or from place to place

She shuffled the papers on her desk.

shuffle

noun

Definition of shuffle for Students

1 : a sliding or dragging walk

2 : an act of mixing up or moving so as to change the order or position

3 : a confusing jumble

The idea was lost in the shuffle.

Learn More about shuffle

See words that rhyme with shuffle Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shuffle Spanish Central: Translation of shuffle Nglish: Translation of shuffle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of shuffle for Arabic speakers

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shuffle

Definition of shuffle

shuffler

Examples of shuffle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of shuffle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of shuffle

shuffle Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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shuffle

Definition of shuffle

Examples of shuffle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of shuffle from the Web

First Known Use of shuffle

shuffle Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Game Terms

Phrases Related to SHUFFLE

Related Phrases

SHUFFLE Defined for English Language Learners

shuffle

Definition of shuffle for English Language Learners

shuffle

Definition of shuffle for English Language Learners

SHUFFLE Defined for Kids

shuffle

Definition of shuffle for Students

shuffle

Definition of shuffle for Students

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