shake

1 of 2

verb

ˈshāk 

shook ˈshu̇k  ; shaken ˈshā-kən  ; shaking

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

4

a

: 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

shakable adjective

or shakeable

ˈshā-kə-bəl 

shake

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act of shaking: such as

a

: an act of shaking hands

b

: an act of shaking oneself

2

a

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

b

: earthquake

3

shakes ˈshāks  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

Phrases

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

Synonyms

Verb

• shudder
• jerk
• vibrate
• tremble
• quiver
• shiver
• sway

Noun

• minute
• heartbeat
• second
• moment

Choose the Right Synonym for shake

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

At the outset of his trip Haeckel was still shaken from the death, probably by suicide, of one of his professors, the esteemed physician and marine biologist Johannes Müller. —Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

The digital entrepreneur, who launched the conservative leaning The Free Press, which Paramount Skydance recently purchased for $150 million, arrived at the news division with a mandate to shake its operations. —Brian Steinberg, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025

Noun

The holiday nog shake is made with nog syrup, soft serve, milk, whipped topping and a sprinkle of nutmeg. —Helena Wegner, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2025

Godolkin’s actual body is only able to eat applesauce, which makes sense in light of its condition, but Cipher drinks those shakes. —Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English sceacan; akin to Old Norse skaka to shake

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shake

• a fair shake
• fair shake
• gave him a fair shake
• get a fair shake
• milk shake
• more than someone can shake a stick at
• shake down
• shake on
• shake one's head
• shake out
• shake up
• wind shake

Rhymes for shake

• ache
• ake
• bake
• brake
• break
• cake
• craik
• crake
• fake
• flake
• hake
• jake

Kids Definition

shake

1 of 2 verb

ˈshāk 

shook ˈshu̇k  ; shaken ˈshā-kən  ; shaking

1

: to move irregularly to and fro : quiver, tremble

shaking with cold

2

: to become unsteady : totter

3

: to cause to move in a usually quick jerky manner

4

: to free oneself from

shake off a cold

5

: to cause to become weaker

shake one's faith

6

: to force out of a place by quick jerky movements

shake dust from a blanket

7

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

shakable

ˈshā-kə-bəl

adjective

shake

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of shaking

2

plural : a condition of trembling (as from chill)

3

: something produced by shaking

especially : milk shake

4

: a very brief period of time

ready in two shakes

5

plural : one that stands out especially in importance, ability, or merit

—usually used in the phrase no great shakes

6

: a long shingle

7

: deal entry 3 sense 2

a fair shake