shakeout

1 of 2

noun

shake·​out ˈshāk-ˌau̇t 

1

: the failure or retrenchment of a significant number of firms in the economy or a sector or an industry that usually results in a depressed market

2

: a period or process in which the relatively weak or unessential are eliminated

shake out

2 of 2

verb

shook out; shaken out; shaking out; shakes out

intransitive verb

: to prove to be in the end : turn out

wait to see how things shake out

Synonyms

Verb

• come out
• fall out
• pan out
• prove
• turn out

Examples of shakeout in a Sentence

Verb

after hearing about all the elaborate planning, I can't wait to see how that wedding shakes out

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Investors looking to sift through the sell-off should look for stocks that can withstand an economic shakeout and are now more attractively valued, according to Citi. —Brian Evans, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2024

Even as travel gets back to normal, the shakeout for Delta could be intense in the weeks ahead. —Susan Tompor, USA TODAY, 26 July 2024

Verb

And also how big a factor is RFK shaking out to be as a potential third party wrinkle in Florida? —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 13 Aug. 2024

A lot of claims were made then about how when everything shook out, music and musicians would be better off without the filter of the rapacious music industry. —Mark Gimein, theweek, 13 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1982, in the meaning defined above