: an act or instance of shaking up
specifically
: an extensive and often drastic reorganization
shook up; shaken up; shaking up; shakes up
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 of shake-up
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
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
29 June 2026
Verizon in particular is in need of a shake-up given its recent CEO shuffle, and creating a connectivity giant might be its ticket.
—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
29 June 2026
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Catherine’s sister Claire (Kara Young and, later, Adrienne Warren) flies in from New York City following their father’s passing, shaking up Catherine’s universe.
—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake-up
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Noun
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
Verizon in particular is in need of a shake-up given its recent CEO shuffle, and creating a connectivity giant might be its ticket.
—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
29 June 2026
Verb
But Wadhams says unaffiliated voters who are tired of one-party rule in Colorado could shake up the Republican primary for governor.
—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
27 June 2026
Catherine’s sister Claire (Kara Young and, later, Adrienne Warren) flies in from New York City following their father’s passing, shaking up Catherine’s universe.
—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for shake-up
Cite this Entry
“Shake-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shake-up. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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