1 B1 neutral
To spread or open something by shaking it.
"She shook out the tablecloth and laid it carefully over the garden table."
separable
shake out
B2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To unfold or spread something by shaking it, or to develop or resolve in a particular way after a period of uncertainty.
In plain English
To open something up by shaking it, or to see how a complicated situation finally ends up.
What does "shake out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
To develop, resolve, or settle into a final state after a period of uncertainty or change.
"Nobody knows yet how the merger negotiations will shake out."
inseparable
3 C1 idiomatic neutral
To eliminate weaker competitors from a market or system, leaving only the strongest.
"The economic downturn shook out many of the smaller firms that had entered the market during the boom."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To shake something so that what is inside falls out, or so that the item itself unfolds and flattens.
Actually means
To open something up by shaking it, or to see how a complicated situation finally ends up.
Usage tip
The literal sense (shaking out a cloth or bag) is transparent. The figurative sense — how things 'shake out' — is very common in American English for describing how a situation finally settles. Often used in business and politics.
Words that pair with "shake out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tablecloth rug situation results market competition
How to conjugate "shake out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
shake out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
shakes out
he/she/it
Past simple
shook out
yesterday
Past participle
shaken out
have + pp
-ing form
shaking out
continuous
Hear "shake out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "shake out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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