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
shook out; shaken out; shaking out; shakes out
: 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
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
A.o. Scott, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Should things shake out in a way where both Flacco and Gabriel are unavailable, Sanders will get his chance to lead the team.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakeout
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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
But he’s been shaken out of his solipsistic reverie.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
Should things shake out in a way where both Flacco and Gabriel are unavailable, Sanders will get his chance to lead the team.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakeout
Cite this Entry
“Shakeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shakeout. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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