shake

verb

Save Word

\ ˈshāk

shook\ ˈshu̇k

\; shaken\ ˈshā-kən

\; shaking

Definition of shake

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to move irregularly to and fro

2 : to vibrate especially as the result of a blow or shock

3 : to tremble as a result of physical or emotional disturbance shook with fear

4 : to experience a state of instability : totter

5 : to briskly move something to and fro or up and down especially in order to mix

6 : to clasp hands

7 : trill entry 2

transitive verb

1 : to brandish, wave, or flourish often in a threatening manner protesters shaking their fists

2 : to cause to move to and fro, up and down, or from side to side especially in a repetitive, rhythmic, or quick jerky manner shook his head in disapproval

3 : to cause to quake, quiver, or tremble

4a : to free oneself from shake a habit shake off a cold

b : to get away from : get rid of can you shake your friend? I want to talk to you alone— Elmer Davis

5 : to lessen the stability of : weaken shake one's faith

6 : to bring to a specified condition by or as if by repeated quick jerky movements shook himself loose from the man's grasp

7 : to dislodge or eject by quick jerky movements of the support or container shook the dust from the cloth

8 : to clasp (hands) in greeting or farewell or as a sign of goodwill or agreement

9 : to stir the feelings of : upset, agitate shook her up

10 : trill entry 2

shake a leg

1 : dance

2 : to hurry up

shake a stick at

: to form a conception of (as by counting or imagining) : conceive —usually used in the phrase more than one can shake a stick at

shake

noun

Definition of shake (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an act of shaking: such as

a : an act of shaking hands

b : an act of shaking oneself

2a : a blow or shock that upsets the equilibrium or disturbs the balance of something

b : earthquake

3 shakes plural

a : a condition of trembling or nervousness specifically : delirium tremens

b : malaria sense 1a

4 : something produced by shaking: such as

a : a fissure separating annual rings of growth in timber

b(1) : milkshake

(2) : a beverage resembling a milkshake a protein shake

5 : a wavering, quivering, or alternating motion caused by a blow or shock

6 : trill

7 : a very brief period of time I'll be there in two shakes

8 shakes plural : one that is exceptional especially in importance, ability, or merit —usually used in the phrase no great shakes

9 : a shingle split from a piece of log usually three or four feet (about one meter) long

10 : deal entry 2 sense 3 a fair shake

Other Words from shake Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about shake

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for shake

Verb

shake, agitate, rock, convulse mean to move up and down or to and fro with some violence. shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose. shake well before using agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring. an ocean agitated by storms rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval. the whole city was rocked by the explosion convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm. spectators were convulsed with laughter

Examples of shake in a Sentence

Verb The ground shook during the earthquake. The house shook as the train rumbled by. The earthquake shook the ground. Shake the salad dressing well before using it. I was so nervous that I was shaking like a leaf. The fugitive couldn't shake the police. It's hard to shake the feeling that I'm forgetting something. The news did nothing to shake my belief that things will be okay. Nothing could shake his faith in God. Noun He responded to the question with a shake of his head. Give the dice a shake. He drank too much coffee and got a bad case of the shakes.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb He's reported to camp early and looks ready to shake off last season. — La Velle E. Neal Iii, Star Tribune, "Five questions for the Twins entering their first full-squad workout," 21 Feb. 2021 Several North Carolina fans leaned over the railing to shake his hand. — Childs Walker, baltimoresun.com, "Thirty five years later, Len Bias’ masterpiece in the Dean Dome remains his valedictory statement," 19 Feb. 2021 Jose Altuve, in full uniform, popped out of the Astros clubhouse to shake Aaron’s hand. — Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, "Hank Aaron: A magnificent ballplayer and a profile in courage," 22 Jan. 2021 But Sutton slipped into the visiting clubhouse anyway, not to ask a question but to shake a hand. — New York Times, "Don Sutton Had an ‘Easy Job’ Thanks to a Lifetime of Hard Work," 20 Jan. 2021 That didn't happen, and recent incidents have led consent decree advocates to question whether the department is ready to shake off its federal watchdogs. — Matt Sledge, NOLA.com, "New Orleans Police Department seeks end to consent decree despite open issues," 17 Dec. 2020 And it won’t be seen as weird if people don’t want to shake your hand 10 years from now, a little bit like smoking on airlines. — The Politics Of Everything, The New Republic, "Transcript: The Vaccine Pipeline," 16 Dec. 2020 Kansas is hoping Jalen Wilson can shake off the quarantine rust as well as David McCormack. — Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, "Kansas-USC live stream (3/22): How to watch March Madness online, TV, time," 22 Mar. 2021 The menu consists of tea and shake combos for two drinks that are made with a variety of vitamins and nutrients. — Laura Bednar, cleveland, "New healthy beverage shop “Independence Nutrition” opens in Independence," 22 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Thanks to the shake-up at the top of the draft, the best receiver falls to the Lions, helping kick-start a new era under coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes. — C.j. Doon, baltimoresun.com, "2021 NFL mock draft (Version 3.0): First-round projections after 49ers, Dolphins shake up the top 10," 31 Mar. 2021 The three commanders of Brazil’s armed forces resigned jointly on Tuesday, a day after President Jair Bolsonaro fired his defense minister as part of a big cabinet shake-up. — New York Times, "Brazil’s Armed Forces Chiefs Resign Abruptly Amid Cabinet Shake-Up," 30 Mar. 2021 With the trade deadline looming, the Celtics have been in seemingly every rumor and the roster could be set for a shake-up. — Matt Eppers, USA TODAY, "Breakout Suns emerge as NBA championship contender: 'They're a damn good team'," 24 Mar. 2021 While every aspect of our personal lives underwent a significant change, the professional side also saw a massive shake-up. — Jacob William, Forbes, "10 Remote Workplace Trends To Look Out For In 2021," 19 Mar. 2021 But the sale is unlikely to usher in a major shake-up of the art market. — Washington Post, "Beeple’s digital ‘artwork’ sold for more than any painting by Titian or Raphael. But as art, it’s a great big zero.," 16 Mar. 2021 China’s parliament has endorsed electoral reforms that pave the way for Hong Kong's biggest shake-up since the former British colony was handed back to Chinese rule in 1997. — Britt Clennett, ABC News, "China approves plan to tighten control of Hong Kong elections so that only ‘patriots’ run the city," 11 Mar. 2021 Covid-19 lit a fire under the retail industry, accelerating the digital shake-up already under way as e-commerce ate into in-store sales and forced merchants to retool distribution networks in the midst of the pandemic. — Jennifer Smith, WSJ, "PVH Fashions New Supply-Chain Strategy in Pandemic-Hit Apparel Market," 10 Mar. 2021 Meanwhile, the state fired two lower-ranking veterans home managers at the time Mr. Murphy announced the shake-up, but allowed a second more-senior manager to retire. — Christopher Weaver, WSJ, "Top Official Ousted Over Covid-19 Deaths at Veterans Nursing Homes Remained on N.J. Payroll for Months," 6 Mar. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shake.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.