shakeout

1 of 2

noun

shake·​out ˈshāk-ˌau̇t 

1

: the failure or retrenchment of a significant number of firms in the economy or a sector or an industry that usually results in a depressed market

2

: a period or process in which the relatively weak or unessential are eliminated

shake out

2 of 2

verb

shook out; shaken out; shaking out; shakes out

intransitive verb

: to prove to be in the end : turn out

wait to see how things shake out

Synonyms

Verb

• prove
• fall out

Examples of shakeout in a Sentence

Verb

after hearing about all the elaborate planning, I can't wait to see how that wedding shakes out

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

So many startups have launched over the last five years that many close observers in the space expect there to be a shakeout soon. —Natalie Jarvey, Fortune, 1 Sep. 2025

The only question is which enterprises will survive the shakeout and lead the next industrial revolution. —Mark Minevich, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025

Verb

Depending on how things shake out in court, representation could get messy for west Charlotte’s City Council District 3. —Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 6 Sep. 2025

However things shake out on the entertainment front, the NFL has no plans to play a Week 1 Friday game at any of the earth’s coordinates next season. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1982, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shakeout

• roundabout
• runabout
• sauerkraut
• thereabout
• turnabout
• about
• bailout
• blackout
• blowout
• breakout
• burnout
• buyout