shoulder
shoulder
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "shoulder" is /ˈʃoʊl.dər/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
First Syllable (/ˈʃoʊl/):
/ʃ/ - voiceless postalveolar fricative (like "sh" in "shoe")
/oʊ/ - diphthong (like "oa" in "boat")
/l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant (like "l" in "love")
Second Syllable (/dər/):
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive (like "d" in "dog")
/ər/ - r-colored vowel (like "er" in "butter")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: shoulder
Plural Noun: shoulders
Present Participle/Gerund (Verb): shouldering
Past Tense (Verb): shouldered
Past Participle (Verb): shouldered
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The joint connecting the arm to the torso, allowing for a wide range of motion. It is a complex anatomical structure involving bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
Synonyms: deltoid (referring to the muscle), scapula (referring to the bone), arm joint
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a body part)
Definition 2: The upper part of the back of a garment, designed to fit over a person's shoulders.
Synonyms: epaulet (if decorative), yoke (in certain garment types)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Definition 3: The unpaved or paved strip alongside a road, used for emergencies, breakdowns, or temporary stopping.
Synonyms: hard shoulder (UK), verge, roadside
Antonyms: roadway, main road, carriageway
Verb
Definition 1: To bear a burden or responsibility; to take on a task or challenge.
Synonyms: assume, undertake, carry, bear, accept
Antonyms: shirk, avoid, evade, relinquish, drop
Definition 2: To push or shove with one's shoulder, often to make way or assert oneself.
Synonyms: nudge, push, shove, jostle, elbow
Antonyms: pull, withdraw, retreat, give way
Definition 3: To place a heavy object or burden onto one's shoulder for carrying.
Synonyms: carry, hoist, lug, heft, transport
Antonyms: drop, lower, set down, unload
Examples of Use
Books:
"He felt a reassuring hand on his shoulder, and turned to see his old mentor smiling kindly." (From a work of fiction)
"The weight of the world seemed to rest on his shoulders as he contemplated the difficult decision." (From a work of fiction)
Newspapers:
"The new policy will require the public to shoulder a greater share of the healthcare costs." (Reuters)
"Traffic was backed up for miles on the highway after a vehicle broke down on the shoulder." (Daily Nation)
Online Publications:
"Many small businesses are struggling to shoulder the increased operating expenses in the current economic climate." (Forbes.com)
"The fashion article highlighted how structured shoulders are making a comeback in haute couture this season." (Vogue.com)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"The protagonist often has to shoulder the blame for mistakes made by the team." (Description of a television series plot on IMDb)
"In the popular video game, players can equip different types of armor that affect the appearance of their character's shoulders." (Game review on IGN, January 2025)
A character in a film might say, "You need to shoulder your responsibilities, no matter how tough they seem." (Dialogue from a movie)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you just shoulder past those people so we can get to the front?" (Heard in a crowded market)
"She has broad shoulders, perfect for carrying heavy loads." (A common description of someone's physique)
"It's important for everyone to shoulder their part in protecting the environment." (Statement made during a public awareness campaign)
10 Quotes Using Shoulder
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." (Isaac Newton)
"The world is a wheel, and it will all come round. You just have to shoulder your way through it." (Stephen King, The Stand)
"He has no right to his opinion who has not risked his life for it. Opinions are not born in the head, but on the shoulder." (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Flight to Arras)
"Leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses. It's about bearing the burdens, not passing them on. It's about having broad enough shoulders to carry the dreams and aspirations of your team." (Unknown)
"A gentleman is a man who knows how to put a shoulder to the wheel even when it is not his turn." (Unknown)
"We are all born with a certain amount of divine fire in us. The great thing is to keep it burning. To carry it on your shoulders." (Henry David Thoreau)
"I think that the best way to get people to understand that we are a country of immigrants is to say to them, 'Look, your grandfather, your great-grandfather, your great-great-grandfather, at some point, they had to shoulder this kind of struggle.'" (Barack Obama)
"On the shoulder of every mountain there is a path, and on the path, a man, and in the man's heart, a desire." (Arabic Proverb)
"The cross is not a burden; it is a pair of wings that lift us to God. We must learn to shoulder it lightly." (Saint Augustine)
"Every man has a right to be wrong in his opinions. But no man has a right to be wrong in his facts. And the burden of proof is always on the man who makes the assertion. He has to shoulder it." (Mark Twain)
Etymology
The word "shoulder" has a long history, tracing its roots back to ancient Germanic languages.
It comes from Old English sculdor or sculdra, which meant the "shoulder of a person." This Old English term then evolved into Middle English forms like schuldre or sholder.
The very first known use of "shoulder" as a noun, referring to the anatomical part of the body where the arm connects to the trunk, dates back to the Old English period (before 1150 AD). For example, it appeared in an early Old English glossary, The Epinal Glossary, from sometime before 700 AD, defining "Scapula" (which in Latin meant shoulder) as "sculdur."
Interestingly, while the exact origin is debated, some etymologists suggest a distant connection to the Proto-Germanic word skelduz, meaning "shield." The idea is that the "shoulder blade" might have been thought of as a flat piece, like a shield, or perhaps even used as a tool for scraping. However, this link isn't definitively proven.
Over time, the word expanded beyond just the body part. By around 1300, it also started being used as a verb, meaning "to push with the shoulder." Later, in the 1500s, the sense of "taking on a burden or responsibility" (as if carrying it on one's shoulders) developed. And the "edge of the road" meaning, what we call the "shoulder" of a highway, is a much more recent development, appearing in the 1930s.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Shoulder
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "shoulder":
Shoulder to shoulder: Working or standing closely together, often in support or agreement.
A chip on one's shoulder: Holding a grudge or resentment, often causing an aggressive or defensive attitude.
To cry on someone's shoulder: To seek comfort and emotional support from someone by confiding in them.
To put one's shoulder to the wheel: To make a great effort; to work hard, especially to achieve a common goal.
To look over one's shoulder: To be apprehensive or wary about something that might happen in the future or about someone following.
To give someone the cold shoulder: To deliberately ignore or be unfriendly towards someone.
To rub shoulders with (someone): To associate or meet with someone, especially a person of higher status or fame.
To shoulder the burden/responsibility: To take on a difficult task or a heavy duty.
To have broad shoulders: To be able to handle a lot of pressure, criticism, or responsibility without being negatively affected.
Straight from the shoulder: Directly and honestly, without hesitation or evasion.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of shoulder from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
