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 of shakeout

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

On the weekly chart, FRPT also has an oversold upturn after a shakeout below support from the weekly cloud model. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026

Kirby told employees in a memo last month that the carrier would benefit from any shakeout in the industry as part of rising oil and fuel prices, potentially providing purchase opportunities. —Bloomberg, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

Verb

Price moved sideways to down while the trend held, momentum reset, and weak hands got shaken out. —Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026

And then whatever shakes out, shakes out, and that’ll be that. —Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

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