# shoulders

/ˈʃoʊɫdɝz/ (US) · /ʃˈəʊldəz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shoulders
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. body parts

noun · CEFR A1

the two parts of your body between your neck and the top of your arms.

For teachers: the anatomical regions where the upper limbs attach to the trunk.

- He carried the small child on his shoulders so she could see the parade.
- The athlete suffered a minor injury to his left shoulder during the final minutes of the championship match.

### 2. responsibility

noun · CEFR B2

the ability to deal with a difficult task or blame.

For teachers: the capacity to bear a burden, task, or moral responsibility.

- The young manager has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders.
- The CEO felt the weight of the entire company's future resting on his shoulders during the merger negotiations.

### 3. to take on a burden

verb · CEFR B2

to accept a difficult job or responsibility.

For teachers: to take on or accept a burden or responsibility; often used metaphorically.

- She had to shoulder the cost of the repairs herself.
- In the absence of clear leadership, the junior partner was forced to shoulder the blame for the project's eventual failure.

Usage: The verb is transitive and usually takes an abstract noun like 'blame' or 'cost' as an object.

## Examples

- He carried the heavy backpack on his shoulders.
- The athlete felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder after throwing the ball too hard.
- The tailor adjusted the padding in the jacket's shoulders to ensure the garment draped correctly over the client's frame.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.