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Showing results for "shook"
  • past tense form of shake.
SEE ALSO:
Slang dictionary results for shook.
Synonyms

shook

1 American  
[shook] / ʃʊk /

verb

  1. simple past tense of shake.

  2. Nonstandard. a past participle of shake.


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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

shook 2 British  
/ ʃʊk /

verb

  1. the past tense of shake

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. informal keen on; enthusiastic about

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

As he walked off, Trump shook hands and talked with a few other players, then stopped and stood directly next to the group of players.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 20, 2026

That drew excitement from industry insiders, with some evoking a 2025 release from China's DeepSeek that shook assumptions of US dominance in AI.

From Barron's Jul. 17, 2026

In a group game four years ago Elfath shook the hand of Vincent Aboubakar before sending off the Cameroon striker for taking his shirt off while celebrating the winner against Brazil.

From BBC Jul. 14, 2026

When Zelensky met Graham in his presidential office on Friday, the two exchanged smiles and shook hands.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 13, 2026

He shrugged and shook his head a little.

From "Firegirl" by Tony Abbott

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