shake
Third Person
shakes
Present Participle
shaking
Past Tense
shook
Past Participle
shaken
1
to move from side to side or up and down
- The cat climbed the tree, causing the branches to shake with every agile movement.
- The earthquake caused the lamp to swing and shake from side to side.
- The boat sailed through choppy waters, causing it to shake with each wave that it encountered.
- The thunderstorm brought heavy rain and strong winds, making the branches of the trees shake violently.
2
to cause someone or something to move up and down or from one side to the other with short rapid movements
transitive
- She shakes the salad dressing vigorously to emulsify the ingredients.
- The bartender shakes the cocktail shaker to mix the drink thoroughly.
- The farmer shakes the apple tree to make the ripe fruits fall.
- He gently shook the baby's rattle to entertain her.
- The strong winds shook the branches of the trees outside.
Synonyms:
3
(of one's body) to involuntarily shake, as a response to fear or due to a particular condition
- After the sudden loud noise, she couldn't help but shake with fright.
- His hands started to shake as he approached the podium to deliver the speech.
- The unexpected encounter with the wild animal caused him to shake with adrenaline.
- The patient's weakened condition caused her to shake uncontrollably.
- The eerie sound in the dark forest made the hiker's legs shake with unease.
Synonyms:
4
to move or gesture a body part, typically a hand or head, to convey a greeting, emotion, or mental state
transitive
- Jane shook her head in disbelief when she heard the surprising news.
- The child enthusiastically shook his hands in the air to express his joy.
- The teacher shook her finger in a playful manner to scold the mischievous student.
- The athlete shook his fist in triumph after winning the championship.
- In a silent agreement, they shook their heads to indicate their shared understanding.
5
to take someone's hand and move it up and down, mainly for greeting
transitive
- In a traditional ceremony, the newlyweds shook hands with each member of the wedding party.
- The two business partners shook hands, sealing the deal on their collaboration.
- As a sign of mutual respect, the leaders shook hands in front of the gathered diplomats.
- The coach shook each player's hand before the crucial match, instilling confidence in the team.
6
to rapidly and intensely move back and forth, causing vibrations or tremors
- As the thunder roared, the windows began to shake with the intensity of the storm.
- The enthusiastic crowd's cheers made the stadium shake with energy and excitement.
- The intense bass from the concert speakers made the entire room shake.
Synonyms:
7
to make something, particularly a belief or idea, less certain
transitive
- The new evidence presented in court threatened to shake the foundations of the theory.
- A series of conflicting reports began to shake her confidence in the accuracy of the news.
- The unexpected turn of events started to shake the team's belief in their strategy.
- The criticism from experts began to shake the credibility of the research findings.
- The shocking revelation about the leader's actions started to shake the loyalty of his followers.
8
to cause someone to be emotionally disturbed or shocked
transitive
- The news of the sudden accident shook the entire community.
- Witnessing the intense argument between his parents shook the child emotionally.
- The harrowing documentary on the war's impact shook the viewers.
- The heartbreaking story in the novel had the power to shake even the most stoic readers.
- The sudden loss of a dear friend shook her to the core, leaving her in disbelief.
9
to alter or transform something into a particular state through rapid and abrupt movements
- She vigorously shook herself free from the stranger's hold.
- He shook the snow loose from his boots.
- She shook the crumbs clean from the tablecloth.
- Feeling trapped, she shook herself loose from the unwanted embrace.
10
to free oneself from, discard, or avoid something
transitive
- After years of therapy, she managed to shake the lingering trauma from her past.
- Focused on personal growth, she sought to shake the feelings of self-doubt and embrace confidence.
- The explorer aimed to shake off the fear and embark on a daring expedition.
- He decided to shake his bad habits and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
- The detective couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the case than meets the eye.
Synonyms: