shake-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈshāk-ˌəp 

: an act or instance of shaking up

specifically : an extensive and often drastic reorganization

shake up

2 of 2

verb

shook up; shaken up; shaking up; shakes up

transitive verb

1

obsolete : chide, scold

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

Synonyms

Verb

• shock
• appal
• appall
• stun

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

Noun

Lee also says this could be the biggest shake-up in years for Apple, commenting on the new slim iPhone to be added to the range and significant upgrades to cameras. —David Phelan, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025

At some point, the trend must end or a massive shake-up needs to happen at Fenway Park. —Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025

Verb

The cannabis peddlers promise to shake up your world, break down barriers and put a big smile on your face. —Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025

No candidate is re-litigating last year, but McMorrow and El-Sayed are running as outsiders ready to shake up a party that MAGA Republicans have rolled right over. —David Weigel, semafor.com, 6 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1847, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shake-up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup

Kids Definition

shake-up

1 of 2 noun

ˈshā-ˌkəp

: an act or instance of shaking up

especially : a reorganization that has extreme effects

lost their jobs in an office shake-up

shake up

2 of 2 verb

(ˈ)shā-ˈkəp

1

: to jar by or as if by a physical shock

the accident shook up both drivers

the news shook us up

2

: to bring about an extensive reorganization of