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

Combining the two leagues’ records into one has resulted in some shake-ups in the record books. —Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 31 May 2024

The all-time statistical leaders in baseball underwent a dramatic shake-up on Wednesday after MLB’s monumental decision to include Negro League players in its historical record. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 30 May 2024

Verb

Rose likes to shake up his own, often with a generous dose of Caribbean flavor as a nod to his Jamaican heritage. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 May 2024

Smaller planes can also encounter turbulence from larger planes that shake up the air with their engines. —TIME, 21 May 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