shock
1Origin of shock
1synonym study for shock
OTHER WORDS FROM shock
Words nearby shock
Other definitions for shock (2 of 3)
Origin of shock
2OTHER WORDS FROM shock
shocker, nounOther definitions for shock (3 of 3)
Origin of shock
3MORE ABOUT SHOCK
What is a basic definition of shock?
A shock is a sudden, intense mental or physical impact. Shock is also the effect of having electricity run through the body. To shock someone means to intensely surprise or horrify someone. Shock has several other senses as a noun and a verb.
The word shock often refers to a sudden mental disturbance that causes an intense emotion, usually surprise or horror. You might feel a shock when you see a failing grade on a test. The word shock can also refer to whatever causes this sudden surprise. The noun shocker and adjective shocking often refer to this sense of shock.
- Used in a sentence: It took Julie a few minutes to recover from the shock of seeing a dancing circus bear in her living room.
Shock is used in this same sense as a verb to mean to cause someone to be suddenly overwhelmed by emotion (usually surprise or horror).
- Used in a sentence: I was shocked by my incredibly high phone bill.
A shock can also be a sudden physical impact. This sense is less common than the emotional one.
- Used in a sentence: The springs absorbed most of the shock from colliding with the wall.
Shock also refers to the bodily imbalance, discomfort, or damage caused by electricity running through a person’s body. This sense is often specifically referred to as “an electric shock,” especially when discussing injuries or medical emergencies.
- Used in a sentence: The electrician barely survived the electric shock he got while working on the power lines.
In this same sense, shock is used as a verb to mean to give an electric shock to someone.
- Used in a sentence: The squirrel was shocked by the cord while chewing on it.
Where does shock come from?
The first records of shock come from around 1565. It ultimately comes from the Old French verb choquier, meaning “to clash in batte.”
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What are some other forms related to shock?
What are some synonyms for shock?
What are some words that share a root or word element with shock?
What are some words that often get used in discussing shock?
How is shock used in real life?
Shock is a common word that most often refers to sudden surprises or electrical accidents.
This may come as a shock to some of you but 2020 was kind of a bummer
— tamar (@tsassizzle) December 31, 2020
Can’t stop thinking about that guy who moved from San Diego to Austin and was shocked his quality of life declined
— Matthew Zeitlin (@MattZeitlin) January 4, 2021
I got shocked by my phone charger cable last night & it sparked when I looked at it. The wiring is exposed & all that. It's probably time to retire that cord.
— Stray Adult™ (@StrayAdult) January 15, 2018
Try using shock!
True or False?
If something is a shock, it is unlikely to bother someone as they expected it to happen.
How to use shock in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for shock (1 of 3)
Derived forms of shock
shockable, adjectiveshockability, nounWord Origin for shock
British Dictionary definitions for shock (2 of 3)
Word Origin for shock
British Dictionary definitions for shock (3 of 3)
Word Origin for shock
Scientific definitions for shock
Other Idioms and Phrases with shock
see culture shock.