shakeout

1 of 2

noun

shake·​out ˈshāk-ˌau̇t How to pronounce shakeout (audio)
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

shake out

2 of 2

verb

shook out; shaken out; shaking out; shakes out

intransitive verb

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Give your legs a daytime shakeout along the property’s forested walking trails, or amp up the hiking at nearby nature getaways like Cook Forest and Parker Dam state parks. Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 4 Mar. 2025 The restaurant tech space is heading for a shakeout. Savneet Singh, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
Sure, Coop is in her 20s and capable of making her own romantic decisions… but a power imbalance is a power imbalance, and even a student-professor fling that seems mutual won’t shake out evenly in the end, especially when said student is rebounding from a long-term love. Rebecca Luther, TVLine, 17 Mar. 2025 With Senior Bowl, combine performances and the majority of free agency now factored in, a look at how the first two rounds of the draft could shake out: FIRST ROUND 1. Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shakeout

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1982, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shakeout was in 1895

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Shakeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shakeout. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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