: 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
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
Cale Clinton, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
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
Colin Bedell, Them, 14 Jan. 2025
The team's new deal with Comcast Spectacor to build a South Philadelphia arena and entertainment complex shakes up plans to redevelop Market East, the struggling business district where the Sixers had previously planned to put their new arena.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shake-up 
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Noun
The Giants’ shocking win in Week 17 against the Indianapolis Colts provided the second major shake-up to the top-pick order in as many weeks, with the first new No. 1 since this series began.
—Cale Clinton, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
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
Verb
Venus retrograde first shakes up your closest partnerships, then urges deeper internal reflection.
—Colin Bedell, Them, 14 Jan. 2025
The team's new deal with Comcast Spectacor to build a South Philadelphia arena and entertainment complex shakes up plans to redevelop Market East, the struggling business district where the Sixers had previously planned to put their new arena.
—Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shake-up
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 18 Jan. 2025.
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