jolt

American  

[johlt] / dʒoʊlt /

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.

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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 British  

/ dʒəʊlt /

verb

1. to bump against with a jarring blow; jostle

2. to move in a jolting manner

3. to surprise or shock

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noun

1. a sudden jar or blow

2. an emotional shock

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of jolt

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

Example Sentences

Breuer has made this his rallying cry as he drives change in the armed forces and tries to jolt Germans from their post-Cold War, end-of-history reverie.

From The Wall Street Journal

That jolted Aranibar, an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ Local 11, into action.

From Los Angeles Times

Then the Italians were jolted back to reality, when Sweden scored three straight goals on its way to a 5-2 win.

From The Wall Street Journal

I realize with a jolt of sadness that I sound just like Mom, who always did the best voices.

From Literature

A light giggle that sent a jolt of lightning to his chest.

From Literature

Related Words

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