shake·out
ˈshāk-ˌau̇t 
1
: the failure or retrenchment of a significant number of firms in the economy or a sector or an industry that usually results in a depressed market
2
: a period or process in which the relatively weak or unessential are eliminated
shook out; shaken out; shaking out; shakes out
: to prove to be in the end : turn out
wait to see how things shake out
Examples of shakeout in a Sentence
Verb
after hearing about all the elaborate planning, I can't wait to see how that wedding shakes out
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Finally, regardless of the scope of payments made, U.S. agriculture is on the road to the most wrenching financial shakeout in over 40 years.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
With two new teams, the schedule could also feature more than 44 games, depending on how the CBA shakes out.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakeout
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Noun
Still far from clear that last week’s shakeout was a proper reset in a market with rich valuations and credit conditions slightly less generous than two weeks ago.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
Finally, regardless of the scope of payments made, U.S. agriculture is on the road to the most wrenching financial shakeout in over 40 years.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
Next week’s results from five of the Magnificent Seven companies — Alphabet , Amazon , Apple , Meta Platforms and Microsoft — could keep the party going or hurt equities in a big way, depending how profits from the market’s most dominant companies shake out.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
With two new teams, the schedule could also feature more than 44 games, depending on how the CBA shakes out.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shakeout
Cite this Entry
“Shakeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shakeout. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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