Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "shrug" []

  • To raise (the shoulders), especially as a gesture of doubt, disdain, or indifference. (verb-transitive)
  • To raise the shoulders, especially as a gesture of doubt, disdain, or indifference. (verb-intransitive)
  • An expressive gesture of raising the shoulders. (noun)
  • A woman's short jacket or sweater open down the front. (noun)
  • Shrug off To minimize the importance of: shrugged off the defeat and talked about tonight's game. (phrasal-verb)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "shrug" in a sentence
  • "The reason we are told with a shrug is always the same: This is Serbia."
  • "(Seriously, that shrug is just as tired as a group of CBS sitcom cast members dancing in an ad.)"
  • "I imagine you got some sympathy and a shoulder shrug from the officials, not that they were dismissing you but its pretty nervy to go complain about noise."