noun

shoulder

SHOHL-duh

noun

The joint and surrounding area where the arm meets the torso.

"She hurt her shoulder lifting the box."

"He put a comforting hand on my shoulder."

The strip of land bordering a road, used for emergency stops.

"The driver pulled onto the shoulder to change the tyre."

verb

To take on responsibility or a burden.

"She had to shoulder the blame for the whole team."

"He shouldered the cost of the repairs alone."

To push with the shoulder.

"He shouldered his way through the crowd."

How to Use Shoulder

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe body part between neck and arm; also, to take on a burden or push with force.

UK vs US

The paved strip beside a motorway is called the "hard shoulder" in the UK and simply the "shoulder" in the US.

Common pairings

shoulder the burden shoulder the blame shoulder to shoulder hard shoulder

shouldered past tense, shoulders plural, shoulders singular

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She hurt her _____ lifting the box.

From Old English sċuldor, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly related to "shield".

Mulder boulder