shock

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈshäk 

often attributive

1

a(1)

: a sudden or violent mental or emotional disturbance

(2)

: a disturbance in the equilibrium or permanence of something

b

: something that causes such disturbance

the loss came as a shock

c

: a state of being so disturbed

were in shock after they heard the news

2

: a state of profound depression of the vital processes associated with reduced blood volume and pressure and caused usually by severe especially crushing injuries, hemorrhage, or burns

3

: sudden stimulation of the nerves and convulsive contraction of the muscles caused by the discharge of electricity through the animal body

4

: shock absorber

5

a

: a violent shake or jar : concussion

b

: an effect of such violence

6

a

: stroke sense 5

b

: coronary thrombosis

7

: the impact or encounter of individuals or groups in combat

shock

2 of 6

verb (1)

shocked; shocking; shocks

transitive verb

1

a

: to strike with surprise, terror, horror, or disgust

b

: to cause to undergo a physical or nervous shock

c

: to subject to the action of an electrical discharge

2

: to drive by or as if by a shock

intransitive verb

1

: to cause surprise or shock

an exhibit meant to shock

2

: to meet with a shock : collide

3

cooking : to halt further cooking of (a vegetable) by submerging in ice water

If you blanch and shock your vegetables (cook them quickly in boiling water, then immerse them in ice water), you'll get a perfectly cooked texture and a nice vibrant color. Once you've done that, you can easily sauté, dress, or grill them.

—Amanda Freitag

Another way to prevent overcooking is to shock the asparagus in an ice bath … The cold water will stop the cooking process as well as bring out the vegetable's naturally bright color and maintain its crisp texture.

—Grace Haynes

shockable

ˈshä-kə-bəl 

adjective

shock

3 of 6

noun (2)

: a thick bushy mass (as of hair)

shock

4 of 6

adjective

: bushy, shaggy

shock

5 of 6

noun (3)

: a pile of sheaves of grain or stalks of corn set up in a field with the butt ends down

shock

6 of 6

verb (2)

shocked; shocking; shocks

transitive verb

: to collect into shocks

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• bump
• collision
• concussion
• crash
• impact
• impingement
• jar
• jolt
• jounce
• kick
• slam
• smash
• strike
• wallop

Verb (1)

• appall
• appal
• floor
• jolt
• shake up

Choose the Right Synonym for shock

impact, collision, shock, concussion mean a forceful, even violent contact between two or more things.

impact may be used to imply contact between two things, at least one of which is impelled toward the other.

the glass shattered on impact with the floor

collision implies the coming together of two or more things with such force that both or all are damaged or their progress is severely impeded.

the collision damaged the vehicle

shock often denotes the effect produced by a collision and carries the suggestion of something that strikes or hits with force.

the shock of falling rocks

concussion when not in technical use, often suggests the shattering, disrupting, or weakening effects of a collision, explosion, or blow.

bystanders felt the concussion of the blast

Examples of shock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Early viewers’ responses have ranged from shock and bafflement to euphoria, though all agree that the 135-minute epic—which has, tellingly, still not secured a distribution deal—is an audacious piece of work. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024

There, he was subjected to electric shocks, beaten with a baton-like instrument, deprived of food and sleep, stripped naked, forcibly shaved, and threatened with dogs and death, the complaint read. —Mallory Moench, TIME, 14 Apr. 2024

The saving rate itself is capturing this change in behavior that is here to stay until there’s some sort of event or shock that causes consumers to change their behavior. —Bryan Mena, CNN, 14 Apr. 2024

As a war movie, Civil War is well made, dropping audiences into the shock and terror of American slaughter. —Devan Coggan, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2024

Callaway’s arrest and detainment will likely come as a shock to U.S. Ferrari aficionados familiar with his work. —Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024

While world leaders have expressed shock and bewilderment over Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa’s decision to raid Mexico’s embassy April 5, the extraordinarily unusual move – and Mr. Noboa’s relative silence about it – is unlikely to hurt him with his constituents. —Regina Garcia Cano and Gabriela Molina, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 Apr. 2024

Do not apply an electrical shock to the snake bite. —Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024

Francesca Farago and Jesse Sullivan are still in shock over their pregnancy news! —Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024

Adjective

Currently in a post-shock trial refit, observers expect the USS Ford to re-emerge, ready for action, in mid-2022, departing for a deployment sometime after. —Craig Hooper, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2021

For chair Jay Powell, this is the moment to prove that the Fed has learned the lessons of the recovery from the Great Financial Crisis, when employment didn’t return to pre-shock levels for six-and-a-half years. —Tim Fernholz, Quartz, 16 June 2021

Perhaps because of those capabilities, Future 50 companies returned to pre-shock levels in 15 weeks, while the MSCI World stock index took more than six months. —Tom Deegan, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2021

Most e-collars also have non-shock cues such as beeps or vibrations that act as a stimulus for training. —Alicia Wallace, CNN, 6 Oct. 2020

As the shockwave continues outward, the material in the post-shock regions quickly cools and recombines. —Michelle Hampson, Discover Magazine, 7 Aug. 2018

Verb

The Florida Panthers shocked the hockey world — and, at times, themselves — in the playoffs last season. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2024

Robinson's death has shocked communities both in and out of Milwaukee. —Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024

Then Bieber shocked the audience by emerging from the side of the stage and serenading Tems, who shared her gratitude for having her special guests. —Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 18 Apr. 2024

The Good Shepherd Church in Sydney’s west on Monday — has shocked residents of Australia’s most populous city. —Reuters, NBC News, 18 Apr. 2024

What the parents saw shocked them, according to the family's attorneys. —Tony Cook, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

Senators said they were shocked and appalled by the information. —David Koenig, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Apr. 2024

Look, nobody should be shocked that the Republican governor is supporting the Republican president. —ABC News, 14 Apr. 2024

The World Central Kitchen attack seemed to shock the President into action. —Keith Gessen, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle French choc, from choquer to strike against, from Old French choquier, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch schocken to jolt

Adjective

perhaps from shock entry 5

Noun (3)

Middle English; akin to Middle High German schoc heap

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Verb (1)

1575, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 2

Noun (2)

1819, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1681, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing shock

• anaphylactic shock
• anti-shock
• a shock to the/someone's system
• bow shock
• culture shock
• future shock
• heat shock protein
• in a state of shock
• in for a rude shock
• insulin shock
• osmotic shock
• rude shock
• septic shock
• shell shock
• shock absorber
• shock front
• shock horror
• shock jock
• shock of someone's life
• shock radio/TV
• shock tactics
• shock therapy
• shock troops
• shock tube
• shock value
• shock wave
• sticker shock
• toxic shock
• toxic shock syndrome

Kids Definition

shock

1 of 4 noun

ˈshäk 

: a bunch of sheaves of grain or stalks of corn set on end (as in a field)

shock

2 of 4 noun

1

: the sudden violent collision of bodies in a fight

the shock of combat

2

: a violent shake or jerk

an earthquake shock

3

a

: a sudden or violent disturbance of the mind or feelings

the shock of defeat

b

: something that causes such a disturbance

the news came as a shock

c

: a state of being so disturbed

were in shock when they heard the true story

4

: a state of bodily collapse that is often marked by a drop in blood pressure and volume and that is usually caused by a severe injury, burn, or hemorrhage

5

: the effect of a strong charge of electricity passing through the body of a person or animal

shock

3 of 4 verb

1

: to strike with surprise, horror, or disgust

were shocked by her behavior

2

: to affect by electrical shock

3

: to drive into or out of by or as if by a shock

shocked the public into action

shocker noun

shock

4 of 4 noun

: a thick bushy mass

a shock of hair

Etymology

Noun

Middle English shock "bunch of stalks"

Noun

from early French choc "a violent collision, shock," from choquer (verb) "to strike against," from earlier choquier (same meaning); probably of Germanic origin

Noun

from earlier shock (adjective) "bushy," probably derived from shock (noun) "a bunch of stalks" because of the similarity of the appearance of bushy hair to a bunch of stalks of grain

Medical Definition

shock

1 of 2 noun

ˈshäk 

1

: a sudden or violent disturbance in the mental or emotional faculties

2

: a state of profound depression of the vital processes of the body that is characterized by pallor, rapid but weak pulse, rapid and shallow respiration, reduced total blood volume, and low blood pressure and that is caused usually by severe especially crushing injuries, hemorrhage, burns, or major surgery

3

: sudden stimulation of the nerves or convulsive contraction of the muscles that is caused by the discharge through the animal body of electricity from a charged source compare electroconvulsive therapy

shock

2 of 2 transitive verb

1

: to cause to undergo a physical or nervous shock

2

: to subject to the action of an electrical discharge

Legal Definition

shock

adjective

: of, relating to, or being a criminal sentence or condition of release involving participation in a program of vigorous physical training, discipline, regimentation, and rehabilitation therapy

shock incarceration

shock probation

shock parole