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

After a decade-plus journey from the stage to the big screen, The Last Showgirl is finally shimmying into theaters everywhere this weekend. —Mike Miller, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2025

From scaling rock faces and carving down snowy slopes to hoisting weights and shimmying in dance studios, here are some of of their responses. —Sonaiya Kelley, Los Angeles Times, 19 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