Shock

/ʃɒk/

Meaning & Definition

noun

a sudden and violent disturbance of the mind or emotions.

The news of the accident left her in a state of shock.

a condition resulting from an impact or injury, characterized by sudden and severe disturbance of bodily functions.

The patient went into shock after losing a significant amount of blood.

an unexpected event that causes great surprise or distress.

The sudden resignation of the CEO was a shock to the company.

verb

to cause someone to feel surprised, upset, or dismayed.

The unexpected turn of events shocked the entire community.

to subject someone to an electric shock.

The technician accidentally shocked himself while repairing the circuit.

to jolt or give a sudden impact.

The explosion shocked the nearby buildings.

Middle English 'schok', from Old English 'sceoccian', related to the verb 'to shake'.

out of shock

In a state of shock or disbelief.

shock and awe

A military tactic that employs overwhelming power to intimidate opponents.

shock treatment

A therapy involving a sudden intervention or strategy.

stun

To knock unconscious or to make someone unable to think clearly.

trauma

A deeply distressing or disturbing experience.

impact

The powerful effect or influence that something has.

To be shocked or surprised, often to an exaggerated degree.

I was totally shook when I heard the news!

Feeling intense disbelief or surprise.

That plot twist had me shook!