shakeout

1 of 2

noun

shake·​out ˈshāk-ˌau̇t How to pronounce shakeout (audio)
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

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
And the shakeout in office real estate—pounded by a double whammy of high rates and low occupancy—is still to come. Alan Murray, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2023 The last time local office vacancies were so high was in the dot com era bubble and telecom sector shakeout of more than 20 years ago. Steve Brown, Dallas News, 20 July 2023 These are beginner-friendly and can take you through short jogs, harder paces, and longer shakeouts. Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 15 Aug. 2023 When your car needs more than a quick floor mat shakeout or vacuum job, follow this guide from our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab to clean your car’s interior like a professional. Brigitt Earley, Good Housekeeping, 15 Apr. 2023 Bitcoin prices fell after several crypto companies cut ties with banking favorite Silvergate, adding to concerns the industry shakeout isn't over. WSJ, 3 Mar. 2023 So that’s one good thing the shakeout has brought — a little less pressure with competitiveness. Dallas News, 4 Nov. 2022 Some investors argue the shakeout could ultimately make the market for clean tech more stable, as the system is strengthened to avoid another collapse. Evan Halper, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2023 Economic Slowdown Is Showing Up The shakeout from the Fed’s steadfast efforts to tame inflation showed up across earnings. Bailey Lipschultz, Bloomberg.com, 11 Feb. 2023
Verb
Hyde said the club will decide after the Boston series how the rotation will shake out for the seven-game homestand versus the St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays. Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2023 When the tasks are complete, pull the four corners together and take it to an area to shake out or hose off the mat. Renee Freemon Mulvihill, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Aug. 2023 Artifacts sprinkle the surface as if someone has shaken out a tablecloth laden with forks, knives, spoons, and plates—an archaeological site with context ajumble. WIRED, 26 Aug. 2023 Jim Bowden of The Athletic took an early look at how the All-Star teams would shake out and picked only one Sox player, Rafael Devers. Peter Abraham, BostonGlobe.com, 10 June 2023 Enter Email Sign Up But how the rest of the month shakes out bears watching. Nicole Yang, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Aug. 2023 What experts disagree on is how the back-to-school shopping season will shake out. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 29 July 2023 Banda collected a couple of large pods that had fallen from the tree and shook out a few seeds. Tayari Jones, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2023 Here is how that shakes out for UW: Opponents the Badgers will face home and away: Indiana, Ohio State, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland and Purdue. Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 14 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shakeout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shakeout was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near shakeout

Cite this Entry

“Shakeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shakeout. Accessed 30 Sep. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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