Word
shook
US/ˈʃʊk/
UK/ʃˈʊk/
Definitions
01past tense of shake
A2 · Elementary
v. the past tense of shake — used when something moved quickly up and down or side to side.
v. the simple past tense of the irregular verb 'shake'.
“The ground shook for a few seconds during the small earthquake.”
“The witness shook her head in disagreement when the lawyer suggested she had been mistaken about the time of the incident.”
Pitfall
He has shook the bottle already.
He has shaken the bottle already.
While 'shook' is the past tense, the past participle used with 'has' or 'have' is 'shaken'.
02shocked or surprised
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal · Slang
adj. feeling very surprised, shocked, or upset by something unexpected.
adj. emotionally unsettled, surprised, or shocked. Used predicatively in informal contexts to describe a state of being rattled.
“I was honestly shook when I found out I won the competition.”
“The entire fanbase was shook after the show's finale delivered a twist that no one had predicted.”
Usage
Almost always follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel'.
Antonyms
03parts for a box
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. a set of wooden pieces ready to be put together to make a box or a barrel.
n. a set of staves or parts for a cask, barrel, or box, packed together for transport before assembly.
“The carpenter ordered a shook of oak to build the new wine barrels.”
“The factory exported the furniture as a shook to save on shipping costs, requiring the customer to assemble the pieces upon arrival.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The ground shook, and from his Soho apartment he could see the north tower burning.” “He said so on the way here.’ They shook their heads.” Etymology
Compare shock (“a bundle of sheaves”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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