# shock

/ˈʃɑk/ (US) · /ʃˈɒk/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. emotional surprise

noun · CEFR B1

a sudden, unpleasant surprise that makes you feel upset or confused.

For teachers: a sudden and disturbing physical or mental experience caused by an unexpected event.

- It was a huge shock to hear that the company was closing so suddenly.
- The news of the sudden policy reversal came as a profound shock to the local community, who had expected years of stability.

### 2. medical condition

noun · CEFR B2

a dangerous medical condition where the blood does not move around the body correctly.

For teachers: a critical physiological state characterized by a sudden drop in blood flow through the body, often following trauma.

- The victim was treated for shock after the car accident.
- Paramedics monitored the patient closely for signs of hypovolemic shock while transporting him to the intensive care unit.

### 3. electricity

noun · CEFR B1

the painful feeling of electricity passing through your body.

For teachers: the physiological effect or sensation caused by an electric current passing through the body.

- I got a small shock when I touched the metal door handle.
- Always disconnect the power supply before attempting repairs to avoid the risk of a fatal electric shock.

### 4. physical impact

noun · CEFR B2

a sudden, heavy hit or crash.

For teachers: a violent collision or impact between two bodies.

- The watch is designed to survive the shock of being dropped on the floor.
- The structural engineers reinforced the bridge to withstand the seismic shocks common in that particular geographical region.

### 5. thick hair

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a thick, messy pile of hair on someone's head.

For teachers: a thick, bushy, or tangled mass of hair.

- He had a wild shock of white hair that made him look like a scientist.
- A thick shock of unruly black hair fell over his forehead, partially obscuring his eyes as he leaned over the manuscript.

### 6. to surprise or upset

verb · CEFR B1

to make someone feel very surprised and upset.

For teachers: to affect with great surprise, horror, or disgust. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- The violent scenes in the movie shocked many people in the audience.
- The scale of the corruption scandal shocked the nation and led to immediate calls for the prime minister's resignation.

### 7. unexpected and surprising

adjective · CEFR B2

used to describe something very surprising or upsetting, often in news.

For teachers: intended to cause intense surprise or horror; often used attributively in journalism.

- The team suffered a shock defeat in the first round of the tournament.
- The tabloid published a shock report claiming that the celebrity couple had secretly married over the weekend.

## Examples

- The news of the accident came as a total shock.
- The patient went into shock after losing a significant amount of blood during the surgery.
- Economists warned that a sudden increase in oil prices could deliver a massive shock to the global market, potentially triggering a recession.

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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.