shake-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈshāk-ˌəp 

: an act or instance of shaking up

specifically : an extensive and often drastic reorganization

shake up

2 of 2

verb

shook up; shaken up; shaking up; shakes up

transitive verb

1

obsolete : chide, scold

2

: to jar by or as if by a physical shock

the collision shook up both drivers

3

: to effect an extensive and often drastic reorganization of

Synonyms

Verb

• appall
• appal
• floor
• jolt
• shock

Examples of shake-up in a Sentence

Verb

the news that we had failed the auto inspection shook us up

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Anadolu | Getty Images LONDON — Nearly four months after taking office, the U.K.’s Labour government is set to unveil its debut budget on Wednesday, with markets braced for a major fiscal shake-up. —Jenni Reid,karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024

Both of these factors will play a role in 2024, as will a shake-up in the North Carolina governor’s race. —Dorian Rhea Debussy, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2024

Verb

And a possible switch at QB from Ashton Daniels to freshman Elijah Brown may shake up the offense. —Harold Gutmann, The Mercury News, 26 Oct. 2024

His exit followed months of upheaval in the entertainment industry, with strikes and production delays shaking up Hollywood. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1847, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

shake-up

1 of 2 noun

ˈshā-ˌkəp

: an act or instance of shaking up

especially : a reorganization that has extreme effects

lost their jobs in an office shake-up

shake up

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)shā-ˈkəp

1

: to jar by or as if by a physical shock

the accident shook up both drivers

the news shook us up

2

: to bring about an extensive reorganization of