shakedown

1 of 2

noun

shake·​down ˈshāk-ˌdau̇n 

1

: an improvised bed (such as one made up on the floor)

2

: a boisterous dance

3

: an act or instance of shaking someone down

especially : extortion

4

: a thorough search

5

: a process or period of adjustment

6

: a testing under operating conditions of something new (such as a ship) for possible faults and defects and for familiarizing the operators with it

shake down

2 of 2

verb

shook down; shaken down; shaking down; shakes down

intransitive verb

1

a

: to take up temporary quarters

b

: to occupy an improvised or makeshift bed

2

a

: to become accustomed especially to new surroundings or duties

b

: to settle down

transitive verb

1

: to obtain money from in a deceitful, contemptible, or illegal manner

racketeers shaking down store owners for protection

2

: to make a thorough search of

3

: to bring about a reduction of

4

: to give a shakedown test to

shook down the vessel before its maiden voyage

Synonyms

Verb

• cheat
• squeeze
• pluck
• sting
• hustle
• stick
• beat
• screw
• rip off
• do
• bleed

Examples of shakedown in a Sentence

Noun

He was the victim of a shakedown by a street gang.

The guards conducted a shakedown of the prisoners' cells to look for weapons.

They're putting the system through a shakedown.

Verb

the rumor is that he started his career shaking people down as an enforcer for the mob

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Barbara Fair, the executive director of Stop Solitary and one of the leading authors of the Protect Act, disagreed, saying that the Protect Act does not prevent shakedowns. —Emilia Otte, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2025

Since his election victory, Trump has orchestrated the largest corporate shakedown in American history. —Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 July 2025

Verb

Another alleged major North Shore drug pusher is facing serious charges of distributing fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine — and even shaking down one of his own dealers at gunpoint. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 7 Aug. 2025

Hunter tried to use references to his drug use to avoid accountability for his international shake down business. —Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 21 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1859, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Rhymes for shakedown

• chinatown
• tumbledown
• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown

Kids Definition

shakedown

noun

shake·​down ˈshāk-ˌdau̇n 

: a testing under operating conditions of something new (as a ship) for possible faults or for the operators to become more familiar with it

a shakedown cruise