movers and shakers
Britishplural noun
Etymology
Origin of movers and shakers
C20: perhaps from the line ``We are the movers and shakers of the world for ever'' in `Ode' by Arthur O'Shaughnessy (1844–81), British poet
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It’s all part of an effort, observers say, for the companies to properly position themselves with the movers and shakers in town.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026
The splashy affair helped cement the reputation of the burgeoning community of about 1,000 full-time residents as a vacation retreat for Hollywood’s movers and shakers.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025
With its work by Andy Warhol, Francesco Clemente, Jean-Michel Basquiat and many others, our critic called the show “a superlative entrée to the movers and shakers of the period.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025
On the other a cohort of former players and established movers and shakers within the game who have become frustrated at a sport's perceived inability to grow, and who promise big financial backing.
From BBC • Oct. 9, 2025
It worries me that the other girls have a head start on this since their families are already friends with the movers and shakers of Ecuador.
From "The Queen of Water" by Laura Resau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
