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• shake-up
  shake-up

  noun

  a thorough change in a business, department, or the like, as by dismissals, demotions, etc.
• shake up
  shake up

  verb

  to shake or agitate in order to mix

shake-up

American  

[sheyk-uhp] / ˈʃeɪkˌʌp /

noun

1. a thorough change in a business, department, or the like, as by dismissals, demotions, etc.

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shake up British  

verb

1. to shake or agitate in order to mix

2. to reorganize drastically

3. to stir or rouse

4. to restore the shape of (a pillow, cushion, etc)

5. informal to disturb or shock mentally or physically

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noun

1. informal a radical or drastic reorganization

shake up Idioms  

1. Agitate in order to mix or loosen, as in This cough medicine needs to be thoroughly shaken up , or Please shake up these pillows .

2. Upset greatly, as in Even though no one was hurt, he was greatly shaken up by the accident . This usage alludes to being agitated like a liquid being shaken. Also see all shook up . [Late 1800s]

3. Subject to drastic rearrangement or reorganization, as in New management was bent on shaking up each division .

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Etymology

Origin of shake-up

First recorded in 1900–05; noun use of verb phrase shake up

Explanation

A shake-up is a major change or upheaval. If there's a shake-up on your soccer team, you might suddenly find yourself playing midfield instead of your usual position defending the goal. Whenever there's reorganization at a company, especially if lots of people lose their jobs, it's described as a shake-up. You can use this word for any similarly drastic change, like a shake-up in your morning routine after your family gets a new puppy that needs to be walked for an hour, or a shake-up in government after a major election.

Example Sentences

The shake-up in the bank’s succession race is happening against the backdrop of a broader shift.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

Home buyers and sellers can expect an end to "gazumping" and more transparency in a major shake-up of the property system.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026

The deal, reached Saturday and subject to regulatory approval, is one of the biggest European telecoms deals in recent years, and represents a major shake-up in France's telecommunications sector.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

It’s almost time for the S&P 500’s quarterly shake-up, which could usher Marvell Technology and several other stocks into the benchmark index.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026

"I don't know that we've got the king, but the general shake-up ought to loosen it," he said.

From A Damaged Reputation by Bindloss, Harold

Related Words

• disturb
• reorganize
• shock