# shake

/ˈʃeɪk/ (US) · /ʃˈeɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shake
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to move back and forth

verb · CEFR A2

to move something quickly from side to side or up and down.

For teachers: to cause an object to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly; can be used transitively or intransitively.

- You should shake the bottle of juice before you open it.
- The earthquake caused the entire building to shake violently, rattling windows and knocking books from the shelves.

### 2. to move your head

verb · CEFR A2

to move your head from side to side to say 'no'.

For teachers: to move the head laterally as a gesture of refusal, disagreement, or disbelief.

- When I asked if he wanted more cake, he just shook his head.
- She shook her head in silent frustration when the committee rejected her proposal for the third time.

### 3. to upset someone

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone feel shocked, nervous, or upset.

For teachers: to disturb someone emotionally or to undermine their confidence.

- The news of the accident really shook her.
- The sudden resignation of the CEO shook the investors' confidence, leading to a sharp decline in share prices.

### 4. to get rid of

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to escape from someone following you or to stop a bad habit.

For teachers: to evade a pursuer or to rid oneself of a persistent negative condition or habit.

- The spy managed to shake the police car in the narrow streets.
- Despite several attempts at medical intervention, he found it impossible to shake the persistent cough that had plagued him all winter.

### 5. the movement

noun · CEFR B1

the act of moving something quickly back and forth.

For teachers: an instance of shaking or being shaken; a tremulous or back-and-forth motion.

- Give the rug a good shake to get the dust out.
- A firm shake of the container is usually enough to redistribute the contents evenly.

### 6. a drink

noun · CEFR A2

a cold drink made of milk, ice cream, and often fruit or chocolate.

For teachers: a milkshake or similar thick beverage typically composed of dairy products and flavourings.

- I ordered a chocolate shake and a burger for lunch.
- The diner was famous for its hand-spun strawberry shakes, which were thick enough to require a spoon.

### 7. a very short time

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a very short moment or a second.

For teachers: an informal unit of time, usually appearing in the phrase 'in two shakes'.

- Wait there, I will be back in two shakes.
- He promised to finish the repairs in two shakes of a lamb's tail, though the task proved more complex than anticipated.

Usage: Almost exclusively used in the idiomatic phrase 'in two shakes' or 'in two shakes of a lamb's tail'.

### 8. musical trill

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a musical sound where two notes are played very quickly one after the other.

For teachers: a rapid alternation between two adjacent notes; a trill.

- The flute player added a delicate shake to the end of the melody.
- The soprano executed a perfect shake on the penultimate note, demonstrating remarkable vocal control and agility.

## Examples

- He gave the bottle a quick shake before opening it.
- After the long hike, the children shared a chocolate shake at the local diner.
- The sudden shake of the ground during the minor tremor caused several books to tumble from the library shelves, though no structural damage was reported.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.