shakedown

1 of 2

noun

shake·​down ˈshāk-ˌdau̇n 

1

: an improvised bed (such as one made up on the floor)

2

: a boisterous dance

3

: an act or instance of shaking someone down

especially : extortion

4

: a thorough search

5

: a process or period of adjustment

6

: a testing under operating conditions of something new (such as a ship) for possible faults and defects and for familiarizing the operators with it

shake down

2 of 2

verb

shook down; shaken down; shaking down; shakes down

intransitive verb

1

a

: to take up temporary quarters

b

: to occupy an improvised or makeshift bed

2

a

: to become accustomed especially to new surroundings or duties

b

: to settle down

transitive verb

1

: to obtain money from in a deceitful, contemptible, or illegal manner

racketeers shaking down store owners for protection

2

: to make a thorough search of

3

: to bring about a reduction of

4

: to give a shakedown test to

shook down the vessel before its maiden voyage

Synonyms

Verb

• beat
• bilk
• bleed
• cheat
• chisel
• chouse
• con
• cozen
• defraud
• diddle
• do
• do in
• euchre
• fiddle
• fleece
• flimflam
• gaff
• hose [slang]
• hustle
• mulct
• nobble [British slang]
• pluck
• ream
• rip off
• rook
• screw
• short
• shortchange
• skin
• skunk
• squeeze
• stick
• stiff
• sting
• sucker
• swindle
• thimblerig
• victimize

Examples of shakedown in a Sentence

Noun

He was the victim of a shakedown by a street gang.

The guards conducted a shakedown of the prisoners' cells to look for weapons.

They're putting the system through a shakedown.

Verb

the rumor is that he started his career shaking people down as an enforcer for the mob

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Price allegedly asked to be personally notified about developments in the check fraud case of Mario Juarez, a two-time Oakland City Council candidate who was charged with a felony in January, barely two weeks after the alleged shakedown attempt. —Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 1 Nov. 2024

Witnesses and victims of shakedowns were reluctant to come forward against a powerful public official who had the authority to award and deny lucrative public works contracts. —Barbara McQuade, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024

Verb

Speaking of Harper, he’s been in Hong Kong this whole time trying to shake down his ex-wife, Marion. —Sarene Leeds, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2024

Edward Burke, who went to prison last month for shaking down business owners and developers. —Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 6 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1859, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

shakedown

noun

shake·​down ˈshāk-ˌdau̇n 

: a testing under operating conditions of something new (as a ship) for possible faults or for the operators to become more familiar with it

a shakedown cruise