shimmy

1 of 2

noun

shim·​my ˈshi-mē 

plural shimmies

1

[by alteration] : chemise

2

[short for shimmy-shake] : a jazz dance characterized by a shaking of the body from the shoulders down

3

: an abnormal vibration especially in the front wheels of a motor vehicle

shimmy

2 of 2

verb

shimmied; shimmying

intransitive verb

1

: to shake, quiver, or tremble in or as if in dancing a shimmy

2

: to vibrate abnormally

—used especially of automobiles

3

: shinny

Examples of shimmy in a Sentence

Verb

They were shimmying on the dance floor.

I shimmied into my jacket.

One of the car's wheels was shimmying.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the example below, Kane shimmies towards Jude Bellingham on the ball (white arrow) despite a gap opening up between Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake (black arrow/area). —The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 12 July 2024

The singer walked into the audience and danced alongside Swift and Post Malone before approaching Cabello for a little Cuban-Colombian shimmy. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2024

Verb

Garner was next seen posing while kicking her leg up in the air on set before shimmying her shoulders and walking up to the camera. —Escher Walcott, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, Monáe was giving a spirited DJ performance, shimmying and waving her hands in the air to the beat and encouraging the crowd to follow her lead. —Kristen Tauer, WWD, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1