: 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
Ann Carrns, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Here are some standout questions received from email and social media:
A shake-up on special teams?
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2025
Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
Held at Manchester Central on Saturday April 12, 2025, Red Bull Featured promises to shake up the world of BMX.
—Jenn Nelson, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shake-up 
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Noun
The start of filing season comes amid a shake-up of I.R.S. leadership.
—Ann Carrns, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Here are some standout questions received from email and social media:
A shake-up on special teams?
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
Millennial Woman Shares 6 Trends Gen Z Are Going To Regret
By Soo Kim
Life and Trends Reporter
0
Generation Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—are shaking up the travel landscape this year, favoring unconventional destinations over traditional tourist hotspots.
—Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025
Held at Manchester Central on Saturday April 12, 2025, Red Bull Featured promises to shake up the world of BMX.
—Jenn Nelson, Forbes, 23 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 31 Jan. 2025.
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