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noun Uncommon

shack

shak

Shack (noun) means a small, roughly built hut or cabin. Example: “They spent the summer in a fishing shack by the lake.”

noun
1
A small, roughly built hut or cabin.
"They spent the summer in a fishing shack by the lake."
"The old shack had no electricity or running water."
verb
1
To live somewhere casually, especially with a romantic partner (usually "shack up").
"They decided to shack up together after only three months of dating."

How to use shack

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA rough, small building — or, informally, to move in and live with someone.

When to use it

"Shack up" is informal/casual, commonly used about unmarried couples living together.

Common pairings
shack up with rundown shack beach shack

Word forms

shacked past tense, shacked past tense, shacks plural, shacks plural, Shacks plural, shacks singular, shacks singular

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Test yourself on “shack” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They spent the summer in a fishing _____ by the lake.

Etymology

Origin uncertain; possibly from Mexican Spanish jacal, itself from a Nahuatl word for an adobe hut.

Origin: Spanish

Related words

Rhymes for shack

See all rhymes for shack →

Frequently asked questions

What does “shack” mean?

The word “shack” means a small, roughly built hut or cabin. In plain terms, a rough, small building — or, informally, to move in and live with someone.

How do you pronounce “shack”?

“Shack” is pronounced shak (/ʃæk/ in IPA).

How do you use “shack” in a sentence?

Here is “shack” used in a sentence: “They spent the summer in a fishing shack by the lake.”

What part of speech is “shack”?

Depending on how it is used, “shack” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “shack” come from?

The word “shack” comes from Spanish. Origin uncertain; possibly from Mexican Spanish jacal, itself from a Nahuatl word for an adobe hut.

Is “shack” a common word?

“Shack” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “shack” have?

“Shack” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, roughly built hut or cabin.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial