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

But while fans eagerly await the leaderboard's final shakeout, one name has already slipped from contention: Robert MacIntyre. —Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Sep. 2025

All-Terrain Testing My first run in the shoe was a short 5k shakeout on the roads around downtown Chamonix. —Will Porter, Outside, 13 Sep. 2025

Verb

Programs will have a better grasp of how things could shake out in their respective divisions. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 26 Sep. 2025

However things shake out on the course, NBC Sports analyst Brad McGinley expects to be in for a boisterous weekend. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 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