: 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
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
Helen Regan, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
One of its subsidiaries, ADOR, underwent a leadership shake-up last year, which precipitated a fallout with K-pop stars NewJeans that’s still being litigated in court.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
Valerie Mesa, People.com, 28 June 2025
Mike Shildt shook up the top of his lineup for the second time in four days.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for shake-up
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Noun
Her suspension brings fresh uncertainty to the Southeast Asian kingdom, which has been roiled by years of political turbulence and leadership shake-ups.
—Helen Regan, CNN Money, 1 July 2025
One of its subsidiaries, ADOR, underwent a leadership shake-up last year, which precipitated a fallout with K-pop stars NewJeans that’s still being litigated in court.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
Verb
This opposition could shake up your financial situation or a relationship investment, Cancer.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 28 June 2025
Mike Shildt shook up the top of his lineup for the second time in four days.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2025
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 15 Jul. 2025.
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