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

Rashford’s smooth shimmy, going inside this time, bamboozled his opponent, who had to pull him down, earning a booking. — Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

In an interview, Farrell said the first shimmy went away after the bus’ front tires were replaced, and the bus was safe to operate after the tires were replaced. — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 16 Aug. 2026

Verb

Guests arrived to the ambient sounds of singer Raphaelle, who serenaded the crowd with a mix of covers and her own music as her Anise dress shimmied under the spotlight. — Vogue, 5 Oct. 2026

The room is dimly lighted but for yellow and red string lights that produce radiant, shimmying splotches on the concrete floor. — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1919, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shimmy

• gimme
• jimmy
• synonymy