noun
Common
shuttle
SHUH-tuhl
Shuttle (noun) means a vehicle or service that travels back and forth between two places. Example: “The hotel shuttle leaves for the station every half hour.”
noun
1
A vehicle or service that travels back and forth between two places.
"The hotel shuttle leaves for the station every half hour."
"We took the airport shuttle to our hotel."
"A free shuttle runs between the two campus buildings."
2
A spacecraft designed for repeated trips, such as between Earth and orbit.
"The shuttle landed safely after its long mission in orbit."
"The museum has a full-sized model of a space shuttle in its main hall."
"The space shuttle carried the astronauts into orbit."
verb
1
To transport people or things back and forth between two places.
"A small ferry shuttles commuters across the river every morning."
"I spend my weekends shuttling the kids between football and music lessons."
"Vans shuttled guests from the parking lot to the venue."
How to use shuttle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething (a bus, van, or spacecraft) that makes repeated back-and-forth trips, or the act of transporting people that way.
Common pairings
airport shuttle
shuttle bus
shuttle service
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Word forms
- Plural
- shuttles
- Third person singular
- shuttles
- Past tense
- shuttled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The hotel _____ leaves for the station every half hour.
Etymology
From an Old English word for a weaving tool that shoots back and forth across a loom.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for shuttle
See all rhymes for shuttle →Frequently asked questions
What does “shuttle” mean?
The word “shuttle” means a vehicle or service that travels back and forth between two places. In plain terms, something (a bus, van, or spacecraft) that makes repeated back-and-forth trips, or the act of transporting people that way.
How do you pronounce “shuttle”?
“Shuttle” is pronounced SHUH-tuhl (/ˈʃʌtəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “shuttle” in a sentence?
Here is “shuttle” used in a sentence: “We took the airport shuttle to our hotel.”
What part of speech is “shuttle”?
Depending on how it is used, “shuttle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shuttle” come from?
The word “shuttle” comes from Old English. From an Old English word for a weaving tool that shoots back and forth across a loom.
Is “shuttle” a common word?
“Shuttle” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “shuttle” have?
“Shuttle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a vehicle or service that travels back and forth between two places.
What is the difference between a shuttle and a bus?
A shuttle is a vehicle or service that runs back and forth between two fixed points, such as an airport and a hotel. A bus typically follows a longer route with many stops. The defining feature of a shuttle is its short, repeated to-and-fro journey.
Why is a space shuttle called a shuttle?
A space shuttle is called a shuttle because it was designed for repeated trips back and forth, such as between Earth and orbit, rather than a single flight. The name reflects reusable, to-and-fro travel.
Can shuttle be used as a verb?
Yes, to shuttle means to transport people or things back and forth between two places, as in "a ferry shuttles passengers across the river." It can also describe people themselves moving to and fro, as in "commuters shuttle between the suburbs and the city."
What words commonly go with shuttle?
Common collocations include "shuttle bus," "shuttle service," "airport shuttle," and "space shuttle." Each describes back-and-forth transport between two points.
