shake-up

1 of 2

noun

ˈshāk-ˌəp 

: 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

Synonyms

Verb

• appall
• appal
• floor
• jolt
• shock

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

Anadolu | Getty Images LONDON — Nearly four months after taking office, the U.K.’s Labour government is set to unveil its debut budget on Wednesday, with markets braced for a major fiscal shake-up. —Jenni Reid,karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2024

Both of these factors will play a role in 2024, as will a shake-up in the North Carolina governor’s race. —Dorian Rhea Debussy, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2024

Verb

Jackson’s Achilles tear will keep him out for a while, perhaps the rest of the ongoing season, and will force the blue and gold to shake up their rotation. —Tony East, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

Though in the last few days of the race messaging from outside groups has shook up that perception. —Nicholas Kerr, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1847, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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