# shuffling

/ˈʃəˈfʊɫɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃˈʌflɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shuffling
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a way of walking by dragging your feet along the ground. It can also mean the act of mixing up a deck of cards before a game.

For teachers: the act of moving with a dragging or scraping gait; also refers to the process of reordering a deck of playing cards to ensure a random distribution.

## Examples

- I heard the shuffling of feet in the hallway.
- The dealer finished the shuffling and began to hand out the cards to the players.
- The rhythmic shuffling of the crowd moving toward the exit was the only sound in the otherwise silent stadium after the final whistle.

## Usage notes

- Often used as a gerund to describe a continuous sound or repetitive action.

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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.