shook

¹ American  

[shook] / ʃʊk /

verb

1. simple past tense of shake.

2. Nonstandard. a past participle of shake.

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adjective

1. Slang. Also shook up strongly affected by an event, circumstance, etc.; emotionally unsettled.

   She was so shook she couldn't speak.

shook ² American  

[shook] / ʃʊk /

noun

1. a set of staves and headings sufficient for one hogshead, barrel, or the like.

2. a set of the parts of a box, piece of furniture, or the like, ready to be put together.

3. a shock of sheaves or the like.

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shook ¹ British  

/ ʃʊk /

noun

1. (in timber working) a set of parts ready for assembly, esp of a barrel

2. a group of sheaves piled together on end; shock

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shook ² British  

/ ʃʊk /

verb

1. the past tense of shake

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adjective

1. informal keen on; enthusiastic about

Usage

What else does shook mean? Shook is the past tense form of shake, used as a slang term to describe feelings ranging from discombobulation and fear to rage and elation, kind of like "all shaken up."

Etymology

Origin of shook¹

First recorded in 1890–95, for the adjective

Origin of shook²

First recorded in 1760–70; short for shook cask, variant of shaken cask, one dismounted for shipment

Example Sentences

Four people have been found guilty and given jail terms by a Greek court after a wiretapping scandal shook the country in 2022.

From BBC

Lee said markets tend to bottom on bad news, flagging the viral AI doom post from Citrini Research that shook up investors at the start of the week.

From MarketWatch

What happened next shook the close-knit village of Llanfairpwll, Anglesey, to its core.

From BBC

When he reached the other side, he shook himself off.

From Literature

Finally, as if he had made up his mind about something, he shook his head, pursed his lips, and blew out a lot of air.

From Literature

Related Words

• afflicted
• agitated
• anxious
• distraught
• jittery
• miffed
• perturbed
• shaky
• troubled