shake

verb

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\ 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 Phrases Containing shake Learn More About shake

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb This is the time to shake it all off and enjoy the evening. — Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022 Former Dancing with the Stars mirror ball champion and new co-host Alfonso Ribeiro is excited to see the cast of season 31 shake it on the floor, but there's one contestant in particular whose time on the show he's intrigued to watch. — Lanae Brody, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2022 Add all of your ingredients, seal it, and shake it. — Ysolt Usigan, Woman's Day, 15 Sep. 2022 Bad dancers in the audience were asked not to shake it during the musical opening number. — Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 14 Sep. 2022 The story of her sister pulls all this into another dimension, and the way Poitras and Goldin have brought the threads together, into the light, is a distillation likely to shake you to the core. — Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 The machine then told me to shake it, strain it, and serve. — Chris Hachey, BGR, 5 Aug. 2022 What might serve to shake you out of this state, this week at least, is that Microsoft has just issued a warning urging Apple macOS users to install security updates as soon as possible as well. — Davey Winder, Forbes, 15 July 2022 Whisk together dry ingredients in a separate bowl and, with the mixer on low, shake them into the wet ingredients. — Julia O'malley, Anchorage Daily News, 30 June 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Not surprisingly, his regular dinner order at McDonald’s — two McDoubles, two McChickens, 20 chicken nuggets, large fries, large shake and large soda — packed on pounds. — oregonlive, 18 Aug. 2022 Simply blend one vanilla bean, ice cream, and half-and-half for vanilla shake perfection. — Samantha Lande, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Aug. 2022 The foreclosure, which is in the earliest stages and could still be averted, is an early sign of a shake-out that may come to the city’s downtown office market in the fallout from COVID-19. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 8 Aug. 2022 But an aggressive 5G build out—while important in the long run—isn’t necessarily a positive for an industry that is only now fully capitalizing on 4G after the big shake-out triggered by Jio’s disruptive 2016 entry into the telecom business. — Megha Mandavia, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022 For an icy dessert like no other, consider the falooda, a supremely indulgent rose petal shake layered with malai kulfi, rice noodles, basil seeds and rose syrup. — Megha Mcswain, Chron, 15 July 2022 The burger joint is offering buy one shake and get one free every weekday for the rest of the summer. — Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE.com, 15 July 2022 Christian Reynoso’s Date, Banana and Almond Smoothie tastes very much like the Coachella Valley date shake that inspired it. — Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2022 Add the gin, dry vermouth, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup, a few strawberries and an egg white (or vegan alternative) into a cocktail shaker and dry shake (without ice). — Emily Burack, Town & Country, 27 June 2022 See More

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.