shrug

1 of 2

verb

ˈshrəg How to pronounce shrug (audio)
 especially Southern  ˈsrəg
shrugged; shrugging

intransitive verb

: to raise or draw in the shoulders especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty

transitive verb

: to lift or contract (the shoulders) especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty

shrug

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act of shrugging
2
: a woman's small waist-length or shorter jacket

Examples of shrug in a Sentence

Verb I asked if he wanted to go out to dinner, and he just shrugged. He just shrugged his shoulders.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Like the parents in Adolescence, most of us just shrug our shoulders and accept that’s just the way of things. Avivah Wittenberg-Cox, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025 Paltrow then panned her phone to the left, revealing a shrugging Meghan sitting at her kitchen table eating a piece of pie before starting to laugh. Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
Hilton, 44, wore the intricate catsuit — which included cutouts up and down the arms, legs, sides and stomach — with a glittery, fringed white shrug to add a dash of sparkle. Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025 The duchess gave an exaggerated shrug before stifling a laugh. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shrug

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English schruggen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shrug was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shrug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shrug. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

shrug

verb
ˈshrəg
shrugged; shrugging
: to draw or hunch up the shoulders usually to express doubt, uncertainty, or lack of interest
shrug noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shrug

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