Definition
Definition of shoulders - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun, plural
1.
responsibilitycapacity to bear tasks or blame
- She took the blame on her shoulders.
2.
transportationUS part of a road next to the traveled wayUS
- Cars pulled over safely onto the shoulders during the heavy rainstorm.
3.
medicalRare the part of the body between the neck and the upper armRare
- He carried the child on his shoulders.
Images of shoulders

part of a road next to the traveled way
Expressions with shoulders
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wide shoulders often seen in strong people
He has broad shoulders from years of swimming.
associate or mix socially with others
At the gala, I had the chance to rub shoulders with many influential artists..
position shoulders back in a straight line
He squared his shoulders before entering the room.
stand straight and push your shoulders back
Square your shoulders, take a breath, and walk onstage confidently.
someone who has the wisdom of age during physical youth
He is an old head on young shoulders, always giving good advice.
worry or burden removed
Finishing the project was a weight off her shoulders.
relief from a burden or worry
When the biopsy came back clear, it was a weight off your shoulders.
have a brief encounter with someone
She brushed shoulders with the famous author at the bookstore.
person or thing significantly superior to others
She is the head and shoulders of the team.
being accountable for a decision or action
The failure of the plan was placed on his shoulders.
young person who acts with unusual wisdom or maturity
She is a wise head on young shoulders in our class.
young person showing wisdom and good judgment beyond age
She is a mature head on young shoulders in our class.
build on someone's previous discoveries or creativity
We all stand on Newton's shoulders.
build on discoveries made by important people before
Scientists stand on the shoulders of giants to make new breakthroughs.
sit on and be carried by another person's shoulders
The child wanted to ride on her father's shoulders at the parade.
raise and round shoulders forward, often from cold or discomfort
He hunched his shoulders against the cold wind.
gesture showing lack of knowledge or interest
He gave a shrug of the shoulders and walked away.
gesture to indicate lack of knowledge or concern
She just shrugged her shoulders when questioned about the missing files.
significantly superior in quality or ability
Her performance was head and shoulders above the rest.
intelligent or shrewd person with good sense or judgement
She is a good head on her shoulders in tough situations.
show good judgment and make smart choices
She really has a good head on her shoulders.
show good practical judgment and make wise everyday decisions
She really has a head on her shoulders about money and work.
stay calm and think clearly in difficult situations
She kept her head on her shoulders during the crisis.
Origin of shoulders
Old English, sculdor (shoulder)
Terms with shoulders included in their meaning
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travel
carry items in a two-strap bag worn on shoulders
clothing
sleeveless garment fastening at the neck, hanging from shoulders
shawl
clothing worn around the shoulders
posture
leaning forward with shoulders raised and head down
medical
uncomfortable aching or soreness felt in the area between head and shoulders
clothing
cloth worn over shoulders or head
height level
at the height of a person's shoulders
fashion
padding in clothing for broader shoulders
clothing
narrow strap on dress going over shoulders
gesture
raise shoulders to show indifference or ignorance
gesture
lifting shoulders showing indifference or ignorance
physical appearance
having wide shoulders
medical
muscles on the front upper body that move the shoulders and arms
photography
photograph of a person's head and shoulders
body type
wider around hips than shoulders
childhood play
ride on someone's back or shoulders
physical carrying
on someone's back or shoulders
measurement
level or measurement of the distance from ground up to shoulders
gesture-like
resembling the gesture of raising shoulders
clothing
wide neckline extending to the shoulders
clothing storage
device shaped like shoulders for hanging clothes
household
object shaped like shoulders for hanging clothes
wrestling
hold opponent's shoulders to the ground
sports
protective gear worn on shoulders in sports
Examples of shoulders in a sentence
His shoulders carried the weight of the decision. Cyclists often ride on the shoulder. The car broke down on the shoulder. She felt a tap on her shoulders. The weightlifter's broad shoulders were impressive.
View all translations of shoulders
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:épaules, accotement, ...
- German:Schultern, Straßenbankett, ...
- Italian:spalle, banchina, ...
- Spanish:hombros, arcén, ...
- Portuguese:ombros, berma, ...
- Chinese:承担能力, 路肩, ...
- Japanese:肩, 路肩, ...
- Arabic:عاتِق, كَتِف الطَّرِيق, ...
- Hebrew:כְּתֵפַיִם, שׁוּלַיִם, ...
- Russian:плечи, обочина, ...
- Ukrainian:плечі, узбіччя, ...
- Hindi:जिम्मेदारी, सड़क का कंधा, ...
Definition of shoulder - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
medicalpart of the body between neck and upper arm
- He shrugged his shoulders in confusion.
2.
clothingupper garment section that covers the joint between neck and arm
- The dress has padded shoulders.
3.
roadsUS strip of land beside a roadUS
- The car pulled over onto the shoulder.
4.
foodcut of meat from upper foreleg
- We roasted a lamb shoulder for dinner.
5.
bottlesRare portion of a bottle where neck meets bodyRare
- The label wraps around the bottle's shoulder.
Verb
1.
movementtr. push something using the shouldertr.
- He shouldered the door open with force.
2.
responsibilitytr. accept responsibility or blametr.
- He shouldered the blame for the team's failure.
3.
bodyintr. move by using one's shouldersintr.
- She shouldered her way through the crowded room.
4.
carryingtr. carry something on one's shoulderstr.
- She shouldered her backpack and left the room.
Images of shoulder

upper garment section that covers the joint between neck and arm 
strip of land beside a road 
portion of a bottle where neck meets body
Expressions with shoulder
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
push into a space using one's shoulder
He had to shoulder in to get through the crowd.
angel symbolizing conscience in fiction
The shoulder angel advised him to tell the truth.
push someone or something aside using the shoulder
He shouldered aside the crowd to reach the stage.
move past using one's shoulder forcefully
He shouldered past the crowd to reach the stage.
turn your head to see behind you
You look over your shoulder when you hear footsteps behind you.
in a direction to the left and behind
She glanced over the left shoulder to check for traffic.
standing next to each other closely
The soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder in the parade.
light touch on the shoulder
She felt a tap on the shoulder and turned around.
seek comfort by sharing sadness with someone
After the breakup, she cried on a shoulder.
seek comfort from someone by sharing troubles
She needed to cry on her mother's shoulder after the breakup.
apply physical force
He put his shoulder into pushing the car up the hill.
deliberately show no warmth, pushing someone away
After the argument, they received a cold shoulder at the office.
take on a difficult task or responsibility
She had to shoulder the load after her boss left.
someone who listens to your problems
Whenever I'm sad, she's always a shoulder to cry on.
defensive attitude due to past grievances
She has a chip on her shoulder about her upbringing.
tendency to be easily offended
She always seems to have a chip on her shoulder, taking everything personally.
continue to work hard and with determination
She kept her shoulder to the wheel to finish the project.
check surroundings due to fear or caution
He always looks over his shoulder when walking alone at night.
monitor someone closely, making them feel watched
I can't work with you looking over my shoulder.
accept responsibility for something bad
He decided to shoulder the blame for the team's failure.
carry a heavy load or duty
He shouldered the burden of caring for his sick parents.
take on the burden of tasks or duties
He decided to shoulder the responsibilities of the project alone.
accept and deal with a difficult task
She had to shoulder the responsibility of leading the team.
road edge unsuitable for driving
He warned me not to drive on the soft shoulder.
Origin of shoulder
Old English, sculdor (shoulder)
Examples of shoulder in a sentence
The bag slipped off his shoulder. The jacket's shoulders were too broad for him. She admired the intricate embroidery on the shoulders. They parked the bike on the shoulder for a break. The truck was stranded on the shoulder after a breakdown. The butcher recommended the pork shoulder for slow cooking.
She seasoned the beef shoulder with herbs and spices. The bottle's shoulder was adorned with intricate designs. Dust collected on the shoulder of the old wine bottle. He shouldered his way through the crowded room. She shouldered the heavy bag with determination. She shouldered the responsibility for the project's failure. They shouldered the burden of caring for their parents. He shouldered past the reporters without speaking. They shouldered through the packed doorway. He shouldered the heavy load without complaint. They shouldered the responsibility together.
View all translations of shoulder
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:épaule, bousculer, ...
- German:Schulter, stoßen, ...
- Italian:spalla, spingere con la spalla, ...
- Spanish:hombro, empujar, ...
- Portuguese:ombro, ombrear, ...
- Chinese:肩膀, 用肩膀推, ...
- Japanese:肩, 肩で押す, ...
- Arabic:كَتِف, نَكَب, ...
- Hebrew:כָּתֵף, לִדְחוֹף בַּכָּתֵף, ...
- Russian:плечо, толкать плечом, ...
- Ukrainian:плече, штовхати, ...
- Hindi:कंधा, कंधे से धक्का देना, ...

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