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

Its dramatic decline comes amid broader concerns over the company’s financial stability, recent privacy breaches, and a leadership shake-up. —Bruce Gil, Quartz, 12 Nov. 2024

Trump also credited her for her work on his 2016 and 2020 White House bids, though his 2024 bid ran smoother and saw fewer shake-ups. —Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 12 Nov. 2024

Verb

In Tlingit culture, the story of how the world came to see light starts with a willful bird whose ability to shape-shift shakes up the status quo. —Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Nov. 2024

Rumor and intrigue cards shake up gameplay with unexpected bonuses and penalties. —Rob Wieland, Forbes, 31 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