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
Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
For investors, developers, and tenants, the message is clear: The forthcoming shakeout from America’s return to office will create distinct winners and losers, with the South leading the way into recovery.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 July 2025
Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Demario Douglas is the Pats’ second-best WR There will be lots of important questions about how the bottom of the depth chart shakes out at wide receiver, but one thing has been clear: Outside of Stefon Diggs, Douglas is the Patriots’ best receiver.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakeout
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Noun
But at the shakeout, shares still closed about 37% higher on the day, on trading volumes of over 184 million shares, almost 17 times more than the average over the past 30 days.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
For investors, developers, and tenants, the message is clear: The forthcoming shakeout from America’s return to office will create distinct winners and losers, with the South leading the way into recovery.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 July 2025
Verb
The governor’s map favored Republicans winning 20 of Florida’s 28 Congressional Districts — which is exactly how the results shook out on Election Day in 2022.
—Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2025
Demario Douglas is the Pats’ second-best WR There will be lots of important questions about how the bottom of the depth chart shakes out at wide receiver, but one thing has been clear: Outside of Stefon Diggs, Douglas is the Patriots’ best receiver.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 30 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakeout
Cite this Entry
“Shakeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shakeout. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.
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