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

The independent monitor overseeing the union announced in June that Fain and Secretary-Treasurer Margaret Mock were under investigation following a shake-up within the leadership. —Adrienne Roberts, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2024

Meanwhile, Sergei Shoigu was replaced as defense minister after holding the position for 12 years, in a surprise shake-up of the department. —David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024

Verb

German politics were shaken up by the strong performance of the far-right Alternative for Germany in the EU election, although Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not seek to change the national election calendar as a result. —Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024

For now, the initial post-debate poll movement hasn't notably shaken up 538's presidential election forecast, which still shows a coin-flip race between Biden and Trump. —Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 2 July 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