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

Over the course of 2024, many staffers questioned Pichai’s vision following product mishaps in the first half of the year as well as internal shake-ups and layoffs, according to conversations with more than a dozen employees, audio recordings and internal correspondence. —Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 27 Dec. 2024

Wicked The biggest shake-up in the Oscars race so far has been the addition of Wicked, which is dancing through life after its half-billion-dollar haul. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 21 Dec. 2024

Verb

Four chief executives in 12 months is a quirk of circumstance, but also a sign of the turbulence brought by Ratcliffe trying to shake up United. —Adam Crafton, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024

The Philadelphia Phillies are acquiring left-handed starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins, according to multiple reports Sunday, in a trade that shakes up the National League East arms race. —Gord Magill, Newsweek, 22 Dec. 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