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
At Comic Con, a normie named Dwayne (Ansley Melham) with striking blue eyes—notable, because Betty’s seeing in color for the first time—shrugs her off as a weirdo cosplayer. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025 When the new band released their first LP in 2001, Hoppus shrugged it off in public. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
But what ensues is neither hilarious nor ludicrous, just sort of lightly strange, leading to an ending that amounts to a shrug. Joe Reid, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025 The loungewear shop also showcases elevated basics like tees and crewnecks, soft jersey shorts, shrugs, pullovers, and matching slides in popular colors. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 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 16 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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