Phrase guide

shake off

verb · 5 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

verb

Meaning 1

To remove (something attached to, on or clinging to an object) by shaking.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The archaeologists shook off the dust that had fallen from the roof, and promptly continued their work.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To dissociate oneself from (an allegation or rumour).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To lose someone who is tracking you.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The police are chasing us! Quick, turn into that side street! We've got to shake them off.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To rid oneself of a malady or its symptoms

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • I just can't shake off this cold.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

get rid of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he shed his image as a pushy boss
  • shed your clothes
  • I couldn't shake the car that was following me

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: shed, cast, cast off, throw, throw off, throw away, drop, shake, escape from

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: remove, take, take away, withdraw, escape, get away, break loose

Narrower terms: shed, molt, exuviate, moult, slough, abscise, exfoliate, autotomize, autotomise

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

28 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: اِنْتَفَضَ (intafaḍa) — to remove by shaking
  • Bulgarian: отърсвам (otǎrsvam) — to remove by shaking
  • Finnish: pudistella — to remove by shaking
  • Finnish: puistella — to remove by shaking
  • Finnish: karistaa — to remove by shaking
  • French: secouer — to remove by shaking
  • Galician: sacudir — to remove by shaking
  • Galician: escudir — to remove by shaking
  • German: abschütteln — to remove by shaking
  • Ingrian: puistaa — to remove by shaking
  • Italian: scrollarsi di dosso (qualcosa o qualcuno) — to remove by shaking
  • Māori: ruirui — to remove by shaking
  • Polish: otrząsać — to remove by shaking
  • Polish: otrząsnąć — to remove by shaking
  • Russian: стря́хивать (strjáxivatʹ) — to remove by shaking
  • Russian: стряхну́ть (strjaxnútʹ) — to remove by shaking
  • Spanish: sacudir — to remove by shaking
  • Swahili: kukung'uta — to remove by shaking
  • Tamil: உதறு (utaṟu) — to remove by shaking
  • Bulgarian: отричам (otričam) — to dissociate oneself from
  • Finnish: karistaa harteiltaan — to dissociate oneself from
  • Finnish: karistaa kannoiltaan — to lose someone tracking
  • Finnish: päästä karkuun — to lose someone tracking
  • French: semer — to lose someone tracking
  • German: abschütteln — to lose someone tracking
  • Italian: liberarsi di (qualcosa o qualcuno) — to lose someone tracking
  • Italian: seminare (qualcosa o qualcuno) — to lose someone tracking
  • Finnish: päästä eroon — to rid oneself of a malady