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Synonyms

shuffle

American  
[shuhf-uhl] / ˈʃʌf əl /

verb (used without object)

shuffled, shuffling
  1. to walk without lifting the feet or with clumsy steps and a shambling gait.

  2. to scrape the feet over the floor in dancing.

  3. to move clumsily (usually followed byinto ).

    to shuffle into one's clothes.

  4. to act underhandedly or evasively with respect to a stated situation (often followed by in, into, orout of ).

    to shuffle out of one's responsibilities.

  5. to intermix so as to change the relative positions of cards in a pack.


verb (used with object)

shuffled, shuffling
  1. to move (one's feet) along the ground or floor without lifting them.

    Synonyms:
    scuff, scrape, drag
  2. to perform (a dance) with such movements.

  3. to move (an object or objects) this way and that.

  4. to put, thrust, or bring trickily, evasively, or haphazardly (usually followed by in, into, out, etc.).

    to shuffle one's way into favor.

  5. to mix (cards in a pack) so as to change the relative positions.

  6. to jumble together, mix, or interchange the positions of (objects).

noun

  1. a scraping movement; dragging gait.

  2. an evasive trick; evasion.

  3. an act or instance of shuffling.

  4. Cards.

    1. a shuffling of cards in a pack.

    2. the right or turn to shuffle preparatory to dealing.

      You win the shuffle.

  5. a dance in which the feet are shuffled along the floor.

verb phrase

  1. shuffle off

    1. to thrust aside; get rid of.

    2. to move away by, or as if by, shuffling.

      They shuffled off to school with little enthusiasm.

shuffle British  
/ ˈʃʌfəl /

verb

  1. to walk or move (the feet) with a slow dragging motion

  2. to change the position of (something), esp quickly or in order to deceive others

  3. (tr) to mix together in a careless manner

    he shuffled the papers nervously

  4. to mix up (cards in a pack) to change their order

  5. (intr) to behave in an awkward, evasive, or underhand manner; equivocate

  6. to move or cause to move clumsily

    he shuffled out of the door

  7. (intr) to dance the shuffle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act or an instance of shuffling

  2. a dance or dance step with short dragging movements of the feet

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • reshuffle verb
  • shuffler noun
  • unshuffled adjective

Etymology

Origin of shuffle

1525–35; < Low German schuffeln to walk clumsily or with dragging feet, mix (cards); akin to shovel

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"This is going to shuffle the deck in a profound way," he told ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl.

From Barron's

The CEO shuffle inspired Wilson to launch his proxy campaign.

From Barron's

I watched Grandpa shuffle off toward the barn and disappear inside.

From Literature

I shuffled my feet and glanced at Red.

From Literature

Tariffs understandably grabbed headlines this morning, but before the decision came down there were two key pieces of economic data that got lost in the shuffle.

From Barron's