SHOULDER TO SHOULDER definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary (2025)

shoulder to shoulder

phrase B1

If two or more people stand shoulder to shoulder, they are standing next to each other, with their shoulders touching.

They fell into step, walking shoulder to shoulder with their heads bent against the rain.

We went on board and saw these people packed shoulder to shoulder on the decks.

Synonyms: side by side, abreast, next to each other More Synonyms of shoulder to shoulder

See full dictionary entry for shoulder

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

shoulder to shoulder

phrase

If people work or stand shoulder to shoulder, they work together in order to achieve something, or support each other.

They could fight shoulder-to-shoulder against a common enemy.

We will need you and the chairman standing shoulder to shoulder on basic positions.

Synonyms: together, united, jointly, as one More Synonyms of shoulder to shoulder

See full dictionary entry for shoulder

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

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shoulder to shoulder in British English

a.

side by side or close together

b.

in a corporate effort

See full dictionary entry for shoulder

Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

shoulder to shoulder in American English

1.

side by side and close together

2.

working together; with common effort

See full dictionary entry for shoulder

Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.

shoulder to shoulder in American English

side by side; with united effort

The volunteers worked shoulder to shoulder with the natives in harvesting the crops

See full dictionary entry for shoulder

Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019 by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

Examples of 'shoulder to shoulder' in a sentence

shoulder to shoulder

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Who are you going to stand shoulder to shoulder with?

The Guardian (2015)

Or we can fight for a viable future and meet this crisis shoulder to shoulder.

The Guardian (2019)

They go shoulder to shoulder and the striker hits the deck.

The Guardian (2020)

People were packed in tightly, sitting shoulder to shoulder.

The Guardian (2020)

We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with them as they have with us on our long paths to justice.

The Guardian (2016)

We stand shoulder to shoulder with international businesses.

Times, Sunday Times (2016)

Standing shoulder to shoulder with conservation bodies are the people who represent our climbers and walkers and the businesses that equip them.

Times, Sunday Times (2015)

Everyone was shoulder to shoulder, pressed against the windows.

The Sun (2008)

He demanded Britain must stand shoulder to shoulder with the architects of a reckless economic gamble which was doomed at birth.

The Sun (2011)

The UK stands shoulder to shoulder with them.

Times, Sunday Times (2016)

SHOULDER TO SHOULDER definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary (2025)

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