shake

Examples

• All

• "We asked ourselves what one man can do," Zach said with a shake of his head.

  Fiction book (1991)

• "Benjamin hesitated, then, with a shake of his head, handed the boy the money."

  Fiction book (1990)

• So you have to give it a shake, but it's OK.

• Giving himself a mental shake, he turned his attention to the ship.

  Fiction book (1992)

• All you have to do is give it a shake.

  Love Lies Bleeding (2024)

• Julian gave himself a little shake as though he threw something off, and his smile was warm.

  Fiction book (1990)

• "Is death the only thing that you see?" Peregrine gave a quick shake of his head.

  Fiction book (1991)

• We got out of my mother's place about two shakes ahead of the landlord... know what I mean?

  Fiction book (1990)

• When Fell instead seized it and gave it a vigorous shake, she colored deeply but recovered herself.

  Fiction book (1993)

• To ensure the paint mixes well, give the can a good shake before using it.

Synonyms

V

vibration

vsshake

73 3.2

A quick movement back and forth that makes something shake

is more general and applies to people and objects in many contexts

S

shaking

vsshake

52 1.8

A quick repeated movement back and forth or up and down that makes things tremble

is the general name for this kind of repeated movement

S

shiver

vsshake

50 1.4

A sudden small shake of the body from cold, fear or excitement

is a wider concept that also includes non bodily repeated motion

T

tremor

vsshake

37 5.3

A shaking movement of the body or voice you cannot control

is less medical and covers voluntary or nonmedical repeated motions too

T

tremble

vsshake

23 2.7

A small shaking that you feel when you are very afraid or cold

is more general and not limited to sudden, cause-specific movements

Q

quivering

vsshake

7 4.4

A slight, fast shaking that you can see or feel

is broader and covers both slight and stronger repeated motions

J

jiggle

vsshake

7 3.9

A small quick shaking movement that makes things wobble

is a broader label that includes both regular and irregular repeated motion

J

jerking

vsshake

2 4.2

A sudden quick movement that happens without control

is the overall term that also covers continuous or rhythmic motions

T

trembling

vsshake

1 2.7

A small, quick shaking of the body when you feel afraid or cold

is the neutral term that also includes other causes and strengths

Antonyms

S

stability

363 3.1

Being steady and not likely to change

S

stillness

38 3.5

A time of complete quiet and no movement that feels calm

Idioms

S

to shake a leg

• Archaic

9 6.5

To hurry when someone tells you to

S

to shake like a leaf

• Informal

3 4.6

To tremble a lot because you are afraid, nervous, or cold

F

fair shake of the sauce bottle

• Australian

9.9

A fair chance to take part or succeed

G

to give one's head a shake

• Informal

8.6

Make yourself stop worrying and start thinking clearly

S

to shake the pagoda tree

• Informal

9.9

To make people react to show hidden problems

S

to shake the plum tree

8.7

To make ripe fruit or other things fall from a tree by moving its branches quickly

S

to shake off the dust from one's feet

• Literature

9.8

Leave a place after a bad experience and not return

Compounds

F

fair shake

• Informal

16 6.0

An equal chance to succeed and be treated the same as others

S

shake-up

15 4.3

A major change in how people run an organization

M

milk shake

1 1.0

A sweet cold drink you get by mixing milk with ice cream or fruit

How Intense

convulsion

• Specialized

20 7.3

jolt

64 3.8

shake

55 1.8

shudder

20 4.1

tremor

37 5.3

Surface Forms

Etymology