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
Hugh Son, CNBC, 1 June 2026
This pattern defined much of the BaaS shakeout of recent years.
—Paul Davis, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 June 2026
Police shook out his clothing and found a single shell casing.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shakeout
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The shakeout is probably just beginning, as the impact of AI reverberates across the business funding ecosystem, from venture to private credit to public giants.
—Hugh Son, CNBC, 1 June 2026
This pattern defined much of the BaaS shakeout of recent years.
—Paul Davis, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Verb
However things shake out in New York over the next two weeks, the NBA couldn’t possibly ask for more from the first year under its new rights package.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 June 2026
Police shook out his clothing and found a single shell casing.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shakeout
Cite this Entry
“Shakeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shakeout. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
