Word forms: plural shakes, present participle shaking, past tense shook, past participle shakenlanguage note: The form shook can be used as the past participle for meaning [sense 1] of the phrasal verb shake up.
1. verb
If you shake something, you hold it and move it quickly backwards and forwards or up and down. You can also shake a person, for example, because you are angry with them or because you want them to wake up.
The nurse shook the thermometer and put it under my armpit. [VERB noun]
Shake the rugs well and hang them for a few hours before replacing on the floor. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: jiggle, agitate, wave, joggle More Synonyms of shake
Shake is also a noun.
She picked up the bag of salad and gave it a shake.
2. verb
If you shakeyourself or your body, you make a lot of quick, small, repeated movements without moving from the place where you are.
As soon as he got inside, the dog shook himself. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
He shook his hands to warm them up. [VERB noun]
Shake is also a noun.
Take some slow, deep breaths and give your body a bit of a shake.
3. verb
If you shake your head, you turn it from side to side in order to say 'no' or to show disbelief or sadness.
'Anything else?' Colum asked. Kathryn shook her head wearily. [VERB noun]
We were amazed, shocked, dumbfounded, shaking our heads in disbelief. [VERB noun]
Shake is also a noun.
Palmer gave a sad shake of his head. [+ of]
4. verb
If you are shaking, or a part of your body is shaking, you are making quick, small movements that you cannot control, for example becauseyou are cold or afraid.
He roared with laughter, shaking in his chair. [VERB]
My hand shook so much that I could hardly hold the microphone. [VERB]
I stood there, crying and shaking with fear. [VERB + with]
Synonyms: tremble, shiver, quake, shudder More Synonyms of shake
5. plural noun [theNOUN]
If you have the shakes, your body is shaking a lot because you are afraid or ill, or because you have drunk too much alcohol.
[informal]
I felt dizzy and had the shakes.
6. verb
If you shake your fist or an object such as a stick at someone, you wave it in the air in front of them because you are angry with them.
The colonel rushed up to Earle, shaking his gun at him. [VERB noun + at]
The protesters burst through police lines into the cathedral square, shaking clenchedfists. [VERB noun]
7. verb
If a force shakes something, or if something shakes, it moves from side to side or up and down with quick, small, but sometimes violent movements.
...an explosion that shook buildings several kilometers away. [VERB noun]
The hiccups may shake your baby's body from head to foot. [VERB noun]
The breeze grew in strength, the flags shook, plastic bunting creaked. [VERB]
8. verb
To shake something into a certain place or state means to bring it into that place or stateby moving it quickly up and down or from side to side.
Small insects can be collected by shaking them into a jar. [VERB noun preposition]
She frees her mass of hair from a rubber band and shakes it off her shoulders. [VERB noun preposition]
Shake off any excess flour before putting the liver in the pan. [VERB noun with adverb]
The prop shaft vibrated like mad and shook the exhaust mounting loose. [VERB noun adjective]
9. verb
If your voice is shaking, you cannot control it properly and it sounds very unsteady, for example because you are nervous or angry.
His voice shaking with rage, he asked why the report was kept from the public. [VERB + with]
[Also VERB]
10. verb
If an event or a piece of news shakes you, or shakes your confidence, it makes you feel upset and unable to think calmly.
The news of Tandy's escape had shaken them all. [VERB noun]
She was close to both of her parents and was undeniably shaken by their divorce. [VERB noun]
Your optimism has been badly shaken over the past months. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: upset, shock, frighten, disturb More Synonyms of shake
shakenadjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
Unhurt, but a bit shaken, she was trying not to cry.
11. verb
If an event shakes a group of people or their beliefs, it causes great uncertainty and makes them question their beliefs.
It won't shake the football world if we beat Torquay. [VERB noun]
When events happen that shake these beliefs, our fear takes control. [VERB noun]
The reforms aim to win back confidence in a system shaken by a major scandal. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: undermine, damage, threaten, disable More Synonyms of shake
12. verb
If you shake someone out of an attitude or belief that you disapprove of, you cause them to change their attitude or belief to one that is more responsible or sensible.
No amount of reasoning could shake him out of his conviction. [V n out of n]
Many businessmen still find it hard to shake themselves out of the old state-dependenthabit. [V n out of n]
13. countable noun
A shake is the same as a milkshake.
He sent his driver to fetch him a strawberry shake.
14.
See a fair shake
15.
See no great shakes
16.
See to shake someone's hand
17.
See to shake hands
18. to shake the foundations of something
19. to shake like a leaf
20. more things than you can shake a stick at
21. shaken but not stirred
Phrasal verbs:
See shake down
See shake off
See shake out
See shake up
More Synonyms of shake
shake in British English
(ʃeɪk)
verbWord forms: shakes, shaking, shook or shaken (ˈʃeɪkən)
1.
to move or cause to move up and down or back and forth with short quick movements; vibrate
2.
to sway or totter or cause to sway or totter
3.
to clasp or grasp (the hand) of (a person) in greeting, agreement, etc
he shook John by the hand
he shook John's hand
they shook and were friends
4. shake hands
5. shake on it
6.
to bring or come to a specified condition by or as if by shaking
I shook free and ran
7. (transitive)
to wave or brandish
they shook their swords
8. (transitive; often foll byup)
to rouse, stir, or agitate
9. (transitive)
to shock, disturb, or upset
I was shaken by the news of her death
10. (transitive)
to undermine or weaken
the crisis shook my faith
11.
to mix (dice) by rattling in a cup or the hand before throwing
12. (transitive) Australian archaic, slang
to steal
13. (transitive) US and Canadian informal
to escape from
can you shake that detective?
14. music
to perform a trill on (a note)
15. (intransitive) US informal
to fare or progress; happen as specified
how's it shaking?
16. shake a leg
17. shake in one's shoes
18. shake one's head
19. shake the dust from one's feet
noun
20.
the act or an instance of shaking
21.
a tremor or vibration
22. the shakes
23. informal
a very short period of time; jiffy
in half a shake
24.
a shingle or clapboard made from a short log by splitting it radially
25.
a fissure or crack in timber or rock
26.
an instance of shaking dice before casting
27. music another word for trill1 (sense 1)
28.
a dance, popular in the 1960s, in which the body is shaken convulsively in time to the beat
29. an informal name for earthquake
30. short for milkshake
31. no great shakes
Derived forms
shakable (ˈshakable) or shakeable (ˈshakeable)
adjective
Word origin
Old English sceacan; related to Old Norse skaka to shake, Old High German untscachōn to be driven
to cause to move up and down, back and forth, or from side to side with short, quickmovements
2.
to bring, force, mix, stir up, dislodge, rearrange, etc. by or as by abrupt, brisk movements
to shake a medicine before taking it
3.
a.
to scatter by short, quick movements of the container
to shake pepper on a steak
b.
to clean, empty, or straighten by short, quick movements
often with out
to shake a rug
4.
to cause to quiver or tremble
chills that shook his body
5.
a.
to cause to totter or become unsteady
b.
to unnerve; disturb; upset
shaken by the news
6.
to brandish; flourish; wave
7.
to clasp (another's hand), as in greeting
8. US, Informal
to get away from or rid of
to shake one's pursuers
9. Music
trill
verb intransitive
10.
to move or be moved quickly and irregularly up and down, back and forth, or fromside to side; vibrate
11.
to tremble, quake, or quiver, as from cold or fear
12.
to become unsteady; totter; reel
13.
to clasp each other's hand, as in greeting
14. Music
trill
noun
15.
an act of shaking; back-and-forth movement
16.
an unsteady or trembling movement; tremor
17.
a natural split or fissure in rock or timber
18.
a long shingle split from a log
19. Informal
an earthquake
20. US
milkshake
21. [pl.]; Informal
a convulsive trembling, as from disease, fear, alcoholism, etc.
, usually with the
22. Informal
a very short time; moment
be back in a shake
23. Informal
a particular kind of treatment; deal
to get a fair shake
24. Music
trill
Idioms:
give someone the shake
no great shakes
shake down
shake hands
shake off
shake up
Derived forms
shakable (ˈshakable)
adjective or ˈshakeable
Word origin
ME schaken < OE sceacan, akin to LowG schaken < IE *skeg-, var. of base *skek- > shag1
More idioms containing
shake
shake hands on something
shake the foundations of something
shake the dust from your feet
shake like a leaf
have more things than you can shake a stick at
Examples of 'shake' in a sentence
shake
The buzz from the crowd shakes through your body with electricity.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If this was happening in any other country we would be shaking our heads in disbelief.
The Sun (2015)
Just shaken up thank you so much for your concern!
The Sun (2012)
Shake to get rid of any excess flour.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
We may reasonably shake our heads at these romantic resolves.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Next we move on too shaking wildly to more loud music.
The Sun (2016)
We need a disruptive interloper to shake things up.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We were both much shaken by the experience.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Stick out your rear and shake it in time to the music.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The news leaves me shaken and stirred.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
His diet is pasta and chicken and three protein shakes a day.
The Sun (2015)
They began shaking it from side to side as officers lost control of the drill.
The Sun (2011)
When they got off they looked really pale and shaken.
The Sun (2013)
Jem felt her body shaking in the small space they shared.
Tracy Chevalier Burning Bright (2007)
He shakes his head at the memory.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He just wanted to shake my hand.
Davey, Ray Rev. & Cole, John A Channel of Peace (1993)
You're not getting a fair shake.
Christianity Today (2000)
Hands are shaken, tight smiles exchanged.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They only shake in quick, short vibrations.
Eric Newby A BOOK OF LANDS AND PEOPLES (2003)
We were all quite shaken, and nobody had a map.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We just want a fair shake and hopefully we're going to get one.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But I wake up shaking and angry.
The Sun (2013)
The tremors shaking broadcasting companies stem, in part, from the success of digital competitors.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
shake
British English: shake /ʃeɪk/ VERB
move up and down If you shake something, you hold it and move it quickly up and down.
Shake the bottle before you drink.
American English: shake
Arabic: يَهُزُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: sacudir
Chinese: 摇动
Croatian: tresti
Czech: třást
Danish: ryste
Dutch: schudden
European Spanish: agitar
Finnish: ravistaa
French: secouer
German: schütteln
Greek: δονώ
Italian: scuotere
Japanese: 振る
Korean: (...을) 흔들다
Norwegian: riste
Polish: potrząsnąć
European Portuguese: sacudir
Romanian: a agita
Russian: трясти
Latin American Spanish: agitar revolver
Swedish: skaka
Thai: สั่น ทำให้สั่น ทำให้ตกใจและสะเทือนใจ
Turkish: çalkalamak
Ukrainian: трясти
Vietnamese: lắc
British English: shake /ʃeɪk/ VERB
tremble If someone or something shakes, they move quickly backwards and forwards or up and down.
My whole body was shaking with cold.
American English: shake
Arabic: يَهْتَزُّ
Brazilian Portuguese: tremer
Chinese: 摇动
Croatian: tresti se
Czech: třást se
Danish: ryste
Dutch: beven
European Spanish: temblar tierra
Finnish: täristä
French: trembler
German: zittern
Greek: τρέμω
Italian: tremare
Japanese: 揺れる
Korean: 떨다
Norwegian: riste
Polish: zatrząść się
European Portuguese: tremer
Romanian: a tremura
Russian: трястись
Latin American Spanish: temblar
Swedish: skaka
Thai: สั่นสะเทือน หวั่นไหว
Turkish: titremek
Ukrainian: трястися
Vietnamese: rung
All related terms of 'shake'
shake off
If you shake off something that you do not want such as an illness or a bad habit , you manage to recover from it or get rid of it.
shake-out
If you shake out a cloth or a piece of clothing , you hold it by one of its edges and move it up and down one or more times, in order to open it out, make it flat , or remove dust .
shake up
If someone shakes up something such as an organization, an institution , or a profession , they make major changes to it.
fair shake
fair , just, or equitable treatment
milk shake
A milk shake is a cold drink made by mixing milk with a flavoring or fruit, and sometimes ice cream .
shake down
If someone shakes you down , they use threats or search you physically in order to obtain something from you.
shake hands
to clasp hands in greeting , agreement, etc
wind shake
a condition of timber in which there is separation of the concentric rings, supposedly due to strain from strong winds during growth
a fair shake
If you do not get a fair shake , you are not given a reasonable opportunity to succeed or to achieve something.
shake a leg
to hurry up: usually used in the imperative
shake on it
to shake hands in agreement, reconciliation , etc
to shake hands
If you shake hands with someone, you take their right hand in your own for a few moments , often moving it up and down slightly , when you are saying hello or goodbye to them, congratulating them, or agreeing on something. You can also say that two people shake hands .
shake one's booty
to dance
shake one's head
to indicate disagreement or disapproval by moving the head from side to side
shake like a leaf
to shake because you are cold , afraid , or nervous
shake in one's shoes
to tremble with fear or apprehension
give someone the shake
to avoid or get rid of an undesirable person (or thing)
shake hands on something
to conclude a deal or an agreement successfully
to shake like a leaf
If you say that someone is shaking like a leaf , you mean that their body is shaking a lot , for instance because they are very cold or frightened .
shake the dust from one's feet
to depart gladly or with the intention not to return
shake the dust from your feet
to leave a place or a situation , with the intention that you will never return to it
shake the dust off one's feet
to depart angrily or contemptuously
shake the foundations of something
to cause great uncertainty and make people question their most deeply held beliefs
to shake the foundations of something
If an event shakes the foundations of a society or a system of beliefs , it causes great uncertainty and makes people question their most deeply held beliefs.
to shake someone's hand shake someone by the hand
If you shake someone's hand or shake someone by the hand , you shake hands with them.
have more things than you can shake a stick at
to have a very large number of a particular thing
a fair crack of the whip
If you get a fair crack of the whip , you are allowed a reasonable opportunity to succeed at something.
more...than you could shake a stick at more things than you can shake a stick at
If you say that there are more things than you could or can shake a stick at , you are emphasizing in a humorous way that there are a lot of them.