Phrase guide

mover and shaker

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

Someone who has power and influence in a field or activity; one who accomplishes tasks, who gets things done.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, plural-normally

Examples

  • The sales team sought to talk to the movers and shakers within an organization, rather than to their underlings.
  • He really is a mover and a shaker in those circles.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a person who wields power and influence

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a shaker of traditional beliefs
  • movers and shakers in the business world

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shaker

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person, individual, someone, somebody, mortal, soul

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 具有號召力的人物 /具有号召力的人物 (jùyǒu hàozhàolì de rénwù) — someone who has power or who gets things done
  • Chinese Mandarin: 風雲人物 /风云人物 (fēngyúnrénwù) — someone who has power or who gets things done
  • Finnish: vaikuttaja — someone who has power or who gets things done
  • German: Macher — someone who has power or who gets things done
  • Hebrew: מחליט ההחלטות — someone who has power or who gets things done
  • Hebrew: בוחש בקדרה — someone who has power or who gets things done
  • Polish: człowiek czynu — someone who has power or who gets things done
  • Portuguese: manda-chuva — someone who has power or who gets things done