shake-up

1 of 2

noun

: 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

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
The decision sparked outrage and several days of protests on campus, prompting another unexpected shake-up days later: the cancellation of a keynote speaker for the first time since 1942. Jocelyn Gecker and Steve Leblanc, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Apr. 2024 Then there was a management shake-up when GM announced its Executive Vice President of Global of Manufacturing and Sustainability Gerald Johnson, 61, is retiring after 44 years with GM. Detroit Free Press, 23 Apr. 2024 The mega-rare merging of Jupiter and Uranus inspires a professional shake-up. USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2024 The town council is set to have a shake-up with two new members and a new mayor next year. Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024 The departure of Nick Shipley may be part of a greater shake-up spearheaded by the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s new CEO, John Crowley, who took over in December. Rachel Cohrs Zhang and John Wilkerson, STAT, 10 Apr. 2024 Hathaway said a staff shake-up at the Republican National Committee would not change the Republican National Convention program. Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2024 Choudhry’s departure comes just six months after a big shake-up of Xbox leadership and amid continued changes to Microsoft’s gaming strategy. Tom Warren, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024 Someone who’s part of the old regime is the wrong choice for delivering the jarring shake-up required. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024
Verb
Contestants will couple up and test a potential spark through compatibility challenges, which grant the winners an opportunity to bring in new singles to shake up the competition. Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 8 May 2024 Read the Herald’s Miami Dysfunction series Residents, shake up this city and demand a larger commission That landslide win Mayor Suarez brags about? Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 7 May 2024 Could another entrant shake up the duopoly, as Tesla did for autos? David McHugh, Fortune Europe, 6 May 2024 Where that album focused on complex heartbreak, C, XOXO will shake up perceptions of the singer. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 6 May 2024 The deal has the potential to shake up the future of the current media landscape, as two streaming platforms are said to be in the running for exclusive games. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 6 May 2024 But a group of younger makers is shaking up the scene, opening next-gen ateliers, teahouses, and concept stores that swap the sometimes-intimidating rules and rituals of traditional crafts with modern designs and easygoing retail spaces. Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2024 The Owen/Cox Dance Company shakes up the revered holiday classic like a snow globe with hard-to-describe but delightful music by Brad Cox and clever, demanding and quirky choreography by Jennifer Owen. Patrick Neas, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2024 Lowery was shaken up by the assault but not injured. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shake-up.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1847, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shake-up was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near shake-up

Cite this Entry

“Shake-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shake-up. Accessed 15 May. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on shake-up

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