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 of shake-up

Verb

• shock
• 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

Allegri will now depart alongside sporting director Igli Tare, chief executive Giorgio Furlani and technical director Geoffrey Moncada in a radical shake-up of the top of the club. —James Horncastle, New York Times, 25 May 2026

Star-Telegram columnist Mac Engel covered a packed week of North Texas sports and entertainment news, from stadium spending to a coaching shake-up. —Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2026

Verb

Continue reading … POLITICS RED IN A SEA OF BLUE — GOP outsider shakes up congressional race in Mamdani's backyard. —FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026

The Memorial Day holiday weekend may shake up your shopping experience. —Simone Jasper may 22, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026

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