shake out 1 of 2

verb

Definition of shake outnext
as in to prove
to come to be after hearing about all the elaborate planning, I can't wait to see how that wedding shakes out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

shakeout

2 of 2

noun

as in shake-up

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of shake out
Verb
Who else could be in the mix, and how might the early rotation shake out? — Zac Jackson, New York Times, 25 June 2026 Regardless of what shakes out, expect anything with Zito. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026
Noun
After last week’s industrywide sell-off, the question is whether AI stocks broadly are heading for a long downturn or just needed a shakeout to get rid of excessive optimism. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 Duffy said that as a result of a low-cost carrier like Spirit shutting down, the industry will experience a shakeout where larger carriers that provide better offers and service take complete control. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 2 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake out
  1. prove
  2. shake-up
  3. fall out
  4. shutdown
  5. closing
  6. downsizing
Verb
  • Women’s European Championship 2017 The exception that proves the rule.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Ferrell said golf proved to be an ideal backdrop for comedy because of the challenges professional golfers face.
    — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Definition of prove
Noun
  • The producer's departure also adds to the staffing shake-up that's been taking place at CBS under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The new spinoff would be the latest shake-up in an industry that has lately been jolted by various mergers and acquisitions.
    — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 29 June 2026
Definition of shake-up
Verb
  • When fans noticed Leo wasn’t at the high-profile event, speculation arose that Swift and King may have also had a falling out.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 9 July 2026
  • And that historically had a sort of origin in the Drake equation, which might have fallen out of favor, but really structured the conversation for a long time.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 July 2026
Definition of fall out
Noun
  • The Russia sanctions measure is also competing for floor time with a must-pass defense policy bill and government spending bills that would prevent a shutdown.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 13 July 2026
  • The government’s monthslong internet shutdown also strangled parts of the economy – especially those with foreign clients – that relied on the world wide web.
    — Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of shutdown
Noun
  • In a note on Tuesday, analysts reaffirmed their year-end price target of 7,100 for the broad market index, representing a 5% drop from the week’s closing level.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026
  • With the peloton boasting fresh legs, expect major fireworks in the closing kilometres.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 4 July 2026
Definition of closing
Noun
  • The Comcast-NBCUniversal downsizing comes as other Hollywood players are bulking up.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
  • In recent decades, competition and changing readership patterns have led to the closure or downsizing of multiple city or state-wide newspapers.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026
Definition of downsizing

Browse Nearby Words

shake (off)
shake out
shakeout
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shake out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20out. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of yaw

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All