shake·down
ˈshāk-ˌdau̇n 
1
: an improvised bed (such as one made up on the floor)
2
: a boisterous dance
4
: a thorough search
5
: a process or period of adjustment
6
: a testing under operating conditions of something new (such as a ship) for possible faults and defects and for familiarizing the operators with it
shook down; shaken down; shaking down; shakes down
1
a
: to take up temporary quarters
b
: to occupy an improvised or makeshift bed
2
a
: to become accustomed especially to new surroundings or duties
b
: to settle down
1
: to obtain money from in a deceitful, contemptible, or illegal manner
racketeers shaking down store owners for protection
2
: to make a thorough search of
3
: to bring about a reduction of
4
: to give a shakedown test to
shook down the vessel before its maiden voyage
Examples of shakedown in a Sentence
Noun
He was the victim of a shakedown by a street gang.
The guards conducted a shakedown of the prisoners' cells to look for weapons.
They're putting the system through a shakedown.
Verb
the rumor is that he started his career shaking people down as an enforcer for the mob
Recent Examples on the Web
Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
This is a third-world country shakedown, all because someone who talks for a living said something stupid.
—Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Considering Trump’s tendency to move the goal posts, the Japanese government and business community can be forgiven for feeling like they are being shaken down.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakedown
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Noun
President Donald Trump took a victory lap after his latest shakedown of a big tech company, sharing a meme showing an embarrassed YouTube exec handing over a giant-size check for $24.5 million to the president.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 30 Sep. 2025
This is a third-world country shakedown, all because someone who talks for a living said something stupid.
—Jesse Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
Julian dispatches Ares and his deputy, Athena (an imperious Jodie Turner-Smith), to the physical world, ordering them to shake down Eve for information about Flynn’s code.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Considering Trump’s tendency to move the goal posts, the Japanese government and business community can be forgiven for feeling like they are being shaken down.
—Jeff Kingston, Time, 4 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakedown
Cite this Entry
“Shakedown.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shakedown. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shakedown
noun
shake·down
ˈshāk-ˌdau̇n
: a testing under operating conditions of something new (as a ship) for possible faults or for the operators to become more familiar with it
a shakedown cruise
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