noun
shimmy
SHIH-mee
Shimmy (noun) means a dance move involving rapid, alternating shaking of the shoulders or hips. Example: “She broke into a little shimmy on the dance floor.”
noun
1
A dance move involving rapid, alternating shaking of the shoulders or hips.
"She broke into a little shimmy on the dance floor."
2
An abnormal side-to-side vibration, especially in a vehicle's wheels.
"The front wheel developed a shimmy at high speed."
verb
1
To move with a shaking, side-to-side motion, or to dance in this way.
"He shimmied along the narrow ledge."
"The dancers shimmied across the stage."
How to use shimmy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA quick side-to-side shaking movement, whether it is a dance step or an unwanted wobble in a wheel.
Common pairings
do a shimmy
shimmy up a pole
a wheel shimmy
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Word forms
- Plural
- shimmies
- Third person singular
- shimmies
- Past tense
- shimmied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She broke into a little _____ on the dance floor.
Etymology
Believed to be a back-formation from chemise (a type of undergarment), mistaken for a plural form.
Related words
Rhymes for shimmy
See all rhymes for shimmy →Frequently asked questions
What does “shimmy” mean?
The word “shimmy” means a dance move involving rapid, alternating shaking of the shoulders or hips. In plain terms, a quick side-to-side shaking movement, whether it is a dance step or an unwanted wobble in a wheel.
How do you pronounce “shimmy”?
“Shimmy” is pronounced SHIH-mee (/ˈʃɪ.mi/ in IPA).
How do you use “shimmy” in a sentence?
Here is “shimmy” used in a sentence: “She broke into a little shimmy on the dance floor.”
What part of speech is “shimmy”?
Depending on how it is used, “shimmy” can be a noun and a verb.
How many meanings does “shimmy” have?
“Shimmy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a dance move involving rapid, alternating shaking of the shoulders or hips.
