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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  

[shayk-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

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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

She doesn’t put all of that on the mayor, though, and said that after considering Raman, she voted for Bass even though she wants to see a shake-up.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026

S&P Global reports better-than-expected third-quarter earnings and set the stage for a potential shake-up of its financial data operations.

From Barron's ● Oct. 27, 2026

Some donors pulled or redirected pledges following the board shake-up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

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

A recent reform wave in Chicago had caused a shake-up in the police department, most disturbing to the preying powers.

From Blacksheep! Blacksheep! by Meredith Nicholson

Canva, one of Australia's best known start-ups, has announced a shake up of the business that will affect 22% of its workers, including job cuts.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

The party of incumbent presidents regularly loses seats in midterm elections, and it is common for presidents to shake up their staffs halfway through a term.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

It took a lot to shake up the 48-year-old.

From Barron's ● Oct. 5, 2026

Powerful open model is set to shake up AI race.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 5, 2026

What certainly went on the Harlem and Roxbury wires was that Detroit Red was going crazy in stir, or else he was trying some hype to shake up the warden’s office.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

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Related Words

• disturb
• reorganize
• shock

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