shoulder

1 of 2

noun

shoul·​der ˈshōl-dər 

1

a

: the laterally projecting part of the human body formed of the bones and joints with their covering tissue by which the arm is connected with the trunk

b

: the region of the body of nonhuman vertebrates that corresponds to the shoulder but is less projecting

2

a

: the two shoulders and the upper part of the back

—usually used in plural

b

shoulders plural : capacity for bearing a task or blame

placed the guilt squarely on his shoulders

3

: a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg and adjacent parts see lamb illustration

4

: the part of a garment at the wearer's shoulder

5

: an area adjacent to or along the edge of a higher, more prominent, or more important part: such as

a(1)

: the part of a hill or mountain near the top

(2)

: a lateral protrusion or extension of a hill or mountain

b

: either edge of a roadway

specifically : the part of a roadway outside of the traveled way

6

: a rounded or sloping part (as of a stringed instrument or a bottle) where the neck joins the body

shouldered

ˈshōl-dərd 

adjective

shoulder

2 of 2

verb

shouldered; shouldering ˈshōl-d(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to push or thrust with or as if with the shoulder : jostle

shouldered his way through the crowd

2

a

: to place or bear on the shoulder

shouldered her knapsack

b

: to assume the burden or responsibility of

shoulder the blame

intransitive verb

: to push with or as if with the shoulders aggressively

Synonyms

Verb

• accept
• assume
• bear
• take over
• undertake

Examples of shoulder in a Sentence

Noun

He rested the baby's head on his shoulder.

He grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.

She carried a backpack on one shoulder.

The horse is five feet high at the shoulder.

We had pork shoulder for dinner.

Verb

He shouldered the blame for the project's failure.

The company will shoulder the costs of the repairs.

She shouldered the full burden of raising three children.

He shouldered the door open.

She shouldered through the crowd.

She shouldered her way through the crowd.

The soldiers shouldered their rifles and marched away.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Former Oiler Klim Kostin was spotted in the stands with his old No. 21 Oilers jersey draped over his shoulder. —Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2024

Swift announced the news in July 2023 in the form of a post featuring a picture of the two old friends with their arms draped over each other’s shoulders. —Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2024

While the rot is systemic, the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders. —Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2024

The benefit to guests, of course, is running into these majestic creatures all around the island; an encounter with the gentle lemurs—who will eat from your hand and climb atop your shoulder for a ride—really captures the magic of this endeavor. —Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024

Her hair is pulled up and back into a perky ponytail at the crown of her head, and right atop said ponytail is a pretty white bow with long ribbons trailing down to her shoulders. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 22 Apr. 2024

Three months later, Ms. Suu Kyi was back on the front line in Loikaw, an assault rifle slung over her shoulder. —Hannah Beech Adam Ferguson, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024

Get onto all fours with your knees under your hips and hands under your shoulders. —Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 19 Apr. 2024

Expect comforting dishes like large pasta loops with heritage pork shoulder ragu and wines ranging from acidic Etna Bianco to complex Nebbiolo. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024

Verb

Advertisement More usually, however, the parents somehow shoulder the blame. —Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2024

Lift arms to shoulder height and extend both arms straight out to the sides to form a T-shape. —Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 19 Apr. 2024

For a politician who garnered only 40% in an unprecedented multiparty election, this feels like Atlas shouldering the world. —Jon Huntsman, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024

Consumers aren’t confident in their ability to make on-time debt payments Higher inflation is also weighing on consumers who are shouldering a record level of credit card debt. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

And what does someone who’s ill-equipped to shoulder parental duties do when those responsibilities are thrust upon them? —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024

Many appeared to be leaning on the installment loans while also shouldering high rates on revolving credit card balances, the agency said. —J.j. McCorvey, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024

Kansas senior center Hunter Dickinson, who dislocated his right shoulder two weeks ago yet was able to play in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, shouldered the blame, so to speak, after the Jayhawks’ 89-68 second-round NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional loss to Gonzaga on Saturday afternoon at Delta Center. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024

Polls show 70% of Okinawans feel their prefecture shoulders an unfair proportion of the burden of hosting U.S. military bases. —Anthony Kuhn, NPR, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sholder, from Old English sculdor; akin to Old High German scultra shoulder

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing shoulder

• a shoulder to cry on
• chip on one's shoulder
• cold shoulder
• gave him the cold shoulder
• got the cold shoulder
• hard shoulder
• have a chip on one's shoulder
• left shoulder arms
• look over one's shoulder
• right shoulder arms
• shoulder bag
• shoulder belt
• shoulder blade
• shoulder board
• shoulder girdle
• shoulder harness
• shoulder-high
• shoulder knot
• shoulder-length
• shoulder pad
• shoulder patch
• shoulder strap
• shoulder to shoulder
• the cold shoulder

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

Kids Definition

shoulder

1 of 2 noun

shoul·​der ˈshōl-dər 

1

: the part of the body of a person or animal where the arm or foreleg joins the body

2

: a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg and attached parts

3

: the part of a garment at the wearer's shoulder

4

: a part that resembles a person's shoulder

shoulder of a hill

5

: the edge of a road

shoulder

2 of 2 verb

shouldered; shouldering -d(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to push with one's shoulder

shouldered him aside

2

: to accept as one's burden or responsibility

shoulder the blame

Medical Definition

shoulder

noun

shoul·​der ˈshōl-dər 

1

: the laterally projecting part of the human body formed of the bones and joints with their covering tissue by which the arm is connected with the trunk

2

: the two shoulders and the upper part of the back

—usually used in plural