: an act or instance of shaking up
specifically
: an extensive and often drastic reorganization
shook up; shaken up; shaking up; shakes up
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 of shake-up
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
Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 9 June 2026
That became part of a broader shake-up at CBS News after Weiss was named to the new role of editor-in-chief by parent company Paramount late last year following David Ellison’s arrival as the network’s corporate leader.
—Jocelyn Noveck, Fortune, 6 June 2026
Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Nimmo, who was teammates with Lugo with the Mets, was visibly shaken up while running to first base.
—Zach Dean, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake-up
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Buckhead fine dining restaurant Aria has hired a new executive chef in another shake-up among Atlanta’s elite kitchens this year.
—Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 9 June 2026
That became part of a broader shake-up at CBS News after Weiss was named to the new role of editor-in-chief by parent company Paramount late last year following David Ellison’s arrival as the network’s corporate leader.
—Jocelyn Noveck, Fortune, 6 June 2026
Verb
Surrounded by investment and innovation projects, the Mobile World Congress (MWC) kicks off today in Barcelona amid a context of euphoria but also tensions over artificial intelligence (AI), whose rapid advancement is shaking up the tech sector.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026
Nimmo, who was teammates with Lugo with the Mets, was visibly shaken up while running to first base.
—Zach Dean, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake-up
Cite this Entry
“Shake-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shake-up. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
