shook: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighThe verb form is standard, formal/informal. The adjective is predominantly informal, colloquial, internet/slang.
Quick answer
What does “shook” mean?
The simple past and past participle of the verb 'shake', meaning to move something quickly back and forth or up and down, or to cause something to tremble.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The simple past and past participle of the verb 'shake', meaning to move something quickly back and forth or up and down, or to cause something to tremble.
As a standalone adjective (chiefly informal, slang): deeply affected or disturbed by an event; emotionally unsettled or shocked.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb form is identical and standard in both. The adjectival slang usage originated in American English and is still more frequent and established there, though it is now understood and used in British English, particularly online and among younger speakers.
Connotations
In slang, both varieties carry the same connotation of being emotionally or psychologically disturbed. It can range from mild surprise to profound trauma.
Frequency
The slang adjective is significantly more frequent in American media, music, and social media.
Grammar
How to Use “shook” in a Sentence
[Subject] shook [Object] (e.g., He shook the tree).[Subject] shook (intransitive) (e.g., The ground shook).[Subject] be/feel/look shook (adj.) (e.g., I was shook after the film).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “shook” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She shook her umbrella before entering the house.
- His voice shook with emotion as he spoke.
American English
- He shook the soda can before opening it.
- The news shook the entire community.
adverb
British English
- Not standard. No common adverbial use.
American English
- Not standard. No common adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- After that near miss on the motorway, I'm properly shook.
- The final plot twist left everyone in the cinema shook.
American English
- I'm still shook from seeing my ex at the party.
- His performance was so powerful, the audience was shook.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Standard verb: 'The CEO shook hands with the investors.' Slang adjective is highly informal and inappropriate.
Academic
Standard verb only, e.g., 'The explosion shook the building.' The adjectival slang is non-standard.
Everyday
Very common for both uses: 'I shook the rug' (verb) and 'That horror movie left me shook' (adj.).
Technical
In geology/seismology: 'The earthquake shook the region for 30 seconds.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “shook”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “shook”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “shook”
- Using 'shook' as the base verb (e.g., 'It makes me shook' – informal adj. is okay, but 'I need to shook it' is wrong; correct: 'shake').
- Using 'shaken' in the slang context can sound overly formal (e.g., 'I was so shaken by the tweet' vs. the more colloquial 'I was so shook').
- Misspelling as 'shocked' when the slang meaning is intended.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both. As the simple past of 'shake' (e.g., 'I shook it'), it is standard, correct English. The use as an adjective meaning 'disturbed' (e.g., 'I'm shook') is informal slang.
'Shook' is the simple past tense. 'Shaken' is the standard past participle used with 'have/had' (e.g., 'I have shaken it') and as a more formal adjective (e.g., 'a shaken conscience'). In slang, 'shook' replaces 'shaken' as the adjective.
Only as the past tense verb. The adjectival slang usage (e.g., 'The market was shook') is inappropriate for academic, business, or formal writing. Use 'shaken', 'disturbed', or 'unsettled' instead.
It has roots in African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), where using past/past participle forms as adjectives is common (e.g., 'I'm bent'). It gained mainstream popularity through hip-hop lyrics and internet culture in the 2010s.
The simple past and past participle of the verb 'shake', meaning to move something quickly back and forth or up and down, or to cause something to tremble.
Shook: in British English it is pronounced /ʃʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃʊk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shook hands (on a deal).”
- “Shook to the core/foundations.”
- “Shook like a leaf.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a book that was so scary it made you shake. Now you're 'shook' – the past of 'shake' and how you feel.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE IS PHYSICAL AGITATION (Being emotionally moved is like being physically shaken).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'shook' used as a standard past tense verb?