shake out 1 of 2

verb

Definition of shake outnext
as in to prove
to come to be after hearing about all the elaborate planning, I can't wait to see how that wedding shakes out

Synonyms & Similar Words

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shakeout

2 of 2

noun

as in shake-up

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of shake out
Verb
When asked by an attendee how the race is shaking out, Chapman said while Matsui took less of the primary vote than Vang, the incumbent has some support from Republicans in the district. — Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Take everything out, shake out the crumbs, and wipe the inside with a sanitizing cloth. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
However, the industry recently faced a significant shakeout, with many firms collapsing amid platform crackdowns. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026 The industry has weathered a brutal shakeout, with major operators merging, downsizing or shutting down entirely. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shake out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shake out
  1. prove
  2. shake-up
  3. fall out
  4. shutdown
  5. closing
  6. downsizing
Verb
  • At every opportunity, Chris Brown seemed to be waiting in the wings, backflipping in Ne-Yo’s face, proving his dream of a certain era was long gone.
    — Clover Hope, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2026
  • None of this means that Miller’s forecast will prove the most accurate in the days to come.
    — Shawn Tully, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of prove
Noun
  • Hours after Apple unveiled the biggest shake-up to its iPhone release cadence in seven years — including its first foldable phone — Samsung rolled out a campaign aimed squarely at iPhone loyalists.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The development provokes a leadership shake-up on both committees, prompting speculation on who will fill the spots when the next Congress opens in January.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of shake-up
Verb
  • That disorientation, the authors say, is due to the bird's internal clock falling out of sync with the sun's position in the sky.
    — Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Knead with your hand in the bowl to form a cohesive mass (some of the chocolate may fall out, but just press it back in).
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of fall out
Noun
  • But in the end, too many obstacles got in the way, including the government shutdown and the Pineapple Express storm in December 2025 that damaged one of the ski lifts.
    — Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The post from Arc announcing its shutdown has faced significant pushback from users who claim Dia isn't as useful to them, with many asking the brand to open-source its original browser.
    — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of shutdown
Noun
  • Israeli troops took positions throughout the city and sealed it off from the rest of the territory for a second day, closing gates and checkpoints to Palestinian drivers.
    — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Vogelsong-Parvin, in her closing argument, contended that Nakira did not act like a grieving parent.
    — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of closing
Noun
  • McQueen is parting ways with creative director Seán McGirr after an uneven three-year collaboration, and amid a substantial retrenchment of the business involving layoffs and a downsizing of the retail network.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That can include a homeowner using proceeds from the sale of another property, a retiree downsizing, an individual investor, a landlord, a developer or a company that purchases homes directly from owners.
    — Ascend Agency, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of downsizing

Browse Nearby Words

shake (off)
shake out
shakeout
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Cite this Entry

“Shake out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shake%20out. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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