shoulder

1 of 2

noun

shoul·der ˈshōl-dər

: 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

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

: the two shoulders and the upper part of the back

—usually used in plural

shoulders plural : capacity for bearing a task or blame

placed the guilt squarely on his shoulders

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

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

: 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

: either edge of a roadway

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

: 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

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

shouldered his way through the crowd

: to place or bear on the shoulder

shouldered her knapsack

: to assume the burden or responsibility of

shoulder the blame

intransitive verb

: to push with or as if with the shoulders aggressively

Example Sentences

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some are physical correctors, like braces, that manually hold your shoulders and back in alignment. —

Women's Health, 17 May 2023 Lakers big man Anthony Davis looked in disbelief at Jokic, who could only shrug his shoulders. —

USA TODAY, 17 May 2023 The bag is the perfect size for swinging it on and off the shoulders and the zippered pockets are easy to access with one hand to conveniently grab a snack or water bottle. —

Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2023 Ryan was sacked 38 times in 12 starts, suffered a Grade 2 shoulder separation and played with a running game that finished 23rd in the NFL. —

The Indianapolis Star, 15 May 2023 As a result of Biden giving Saudi Arabia the cold shoulder, the kingdom has shifted its weight toward Iran’s regime by reestablishing diplomatic relations with Tehran, veteran Mideast experts argue. —

Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 14 May 2023 Wear it over your shoulder or in the crook of your arms—it'll look chic either way. —

Sophie Dweck, townandcountrymag.com, 13 May 2023 The angel sleeve is cute but also practical, protecting your shoulders from the sun's rays. —

Elizabeth Berry, goodhousekeeping.com, 12 May 2023 The Population Bailey Off The Shoulder Dress $164 at Amazon Show off those shoulders in this stunning bodycon sheath dress. —

Emily Shiffer, womenshealthmag.com, 11 May 2023

Verb

Black people shoulder a great burden of grief, which can undermine their mental and physical health, said Khaliah Johnson, chief of pediatric palliative care at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. —

Liz Szabo, Anchorage Daily News, 17 May 2023 Enter Email Sign Up More than a handful of senators asked if the executives would consider returning part of their compensation, since bank failures are shouldered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and other banks in the system. —

Ken Sweet, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023 The debt clause was initially intended to ensure the formerly Confederate states would not shrink from shouldering Union debts, and that the U.S. would not have to pay reparations to people who had enslaved others. —

Politifact Staff Writer, Dallas News, 16 May 2023 The state will shoulder the $17 million needed to raise the 14.5-mile Corcoran levee an additional four feet, protecting the city from rising floodwaters. —

Elvia Limón, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2023 Chicago has shouldered more than 8,000 migrants since August sent by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, according to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. —

Ella Lee, USA TODAY, 6 May 2023 Under current law, special elections occur with very little control, and municipalities have to shoulder nearly all of the costs incurred. —

Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 4 May 2023 But technology shoulders a large share of the blame. —

Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 27 Apr. 2023 That’s part of what makes the show so appealing, and also what makes for such a jolt in the times when the real world shoulders its way into the story. —

Rick Porter, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shoulder.' 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 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

Time Traveler

The first known use of shoulder was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Shoulder.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoulder. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

shoulder

1 of 2 noun

shoul·der ˈshōl-dər

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

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

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

: a part that resembles a person's shoulder

shoulder of a hill

: the edge of a road

shoulder

2 of 2 verb

shouldered; shouldering -d(ə-)riŋ

: to push with one's shoulder

shouldered him aside

: to accept as one's burden or responsibility

shoulder the blame

Medical Definition

shoulder

noun

shoul·der ˈshōl-dər

: 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