# shook

/ˈʃʊk/ (US) · /ʃˈʊk/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. past tense of shake

verb · CEFR A2

the past tense of shake — used when something moved quickly up and down or side to side.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. shocked or surprised

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

feeling very surprised, shocked, or upset by something unexpected.

For teachers: 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'.

### 3. parts for a box

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a set of wooden pieces ready to be put together to make a box or a barrel.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I was totally shook after seeing that movie.
- The news of the sudden office closure left the entire team shook and worried about their future.
- Even the most experienced reporters were visibly shook by the intensity of the witness testimony, which challenged their professional detachment.

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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.