Jump To:

• 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.

---

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

---

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 .

---

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

See Examples For:

shake-up shake up

The Renters' Rights Act came into force in England at the start of May, and was described as the biggest shake-up of the sector in more than 30 years.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

The local government secretary also told the BBC she wanted to be "clear-eyed" about what the planned shake-up in 16 areas of England was likely to achieve.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

It was part of a second-half shake-up with Savio and Destiny Udogie being withdrawn after an hour in a planned double substitution on medical advice.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

Strong performance on industry-standard benchmark tests could answer some of the questions that have surrounded Google DeepMind since before its co-founder, Demis Hassabis, stepped aside in an executive shake-up last month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

No. Had a devil of a shake-up, though.

From 'Tween Snow and Fire A Tale of the Last Kafir War by Bertram Mitford

Finneas and Aaron Rowe are among the musical acts that have pulled the plug on their upcoming performances with Ed Sheeran, in the latest shake up to the singer’s tour.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026

After victory in the series opener in Johannesburg last month, the All Blacks jumped to the top of the world rankings and threatened to shake up rugby's world order.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

And it could shake up the power struggle atop the fund where John Overdeck has been locked in a bitter feud with his co-founder, David Siegel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Micron’s new supply deals and the evolution of HBM could shake up and change the traditional memory cycle, Bryson said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 3, 2026

Chris looked ridiculous as he tried to get the last bit of chocolate shake up through the straw.

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds

Related Words

• disturb
• reorganize
• shock