jolt

[johlt]

verb (used with object)

1. to jar, shake, or cause to move by or as if by a sudden rough thrust; shake up roughly.

   The bus jolted its passengers as it went down the rocky road.

2. to knock sharply so as to dislodge.

   He jolted the nail free with a stone.

3. to stun with a blow, especially in boxing.

4. to shock emotionally or psychologically.

   His sudden death jolted us all.

5. to bring to a desired state sharply or abruptly.

   to jolt a person into awareness.

6. to make active or alert, as by using an abrupt, sharp, or rough manner.

   to jolt someone's memory.

7. to interfere with or intrude upon, especially in a rough or crude manner; interrupt disturbingly.

verb (used without object)

1. to move with a sharp jerk or a series of sharp jerks.

   The car jolted to a halt.

noun

1. a jolting shock, movement, or blow.

   The automobile gave a sudden jolt.

2. an emotional or psychological shock.

   The news of his arrest gave me quite a jolt.

3. something that causes such a shock.

   The news was a jolt to me.

4. a sudden, unexpected rejection or defeat.

   Their policy got a rude jolt from the widespread opposition.

5. Slang.,  a prison sentence.

6. Slang.,  an injection of a narcotic.

7. a bracing dose of something.

   a jolt of whiskey; a jolt of fresh air.

jolt

/ dʒəʊlt /

verb

1. to bump against with a jarring blow; jostle

2. to move in a jolting manner

3. to surprise or shock

noun

1. a sudden jar or blow

2. an emotional shock

Other Word Forms

• jolter noun
• joltingly adverb
• joltless adjective
• unjolted adjective
• jolty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of jolt¹

1590–1600; blend of jot to jolt and joll to bump, both now dial.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jolt¹

C16: probably blend of dialect jot to jerk and dialect joll to bump

Example Sentences

The earthquake shook the northern coast of Cebu, one of the country's most populous islands, on the night of 30 September, jolting many out of their sleep.

From BBC

The footage is a jolt for a refugee watching from outside the country, despite its softer tone.

From BBC

Part of the series’ breathtaking cinematic scope includes occasional jolts of action, and this long-foreshadowed death match lives up to the best of those scenes.

From Salon

Still, that did little to jolt the offense.

From Los Angeles Times

An hour? — before jolting awake at 4 a.m. in a foggy panic.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• convulse 
• disturb 
• jar 
• knock 
• rock 
• shake 
• shake up 
• shock 
• startle 
• stun 
• upset