noun

shock

shok

noun

A sudden, jarring surprise or emotional blow.

"The news of her resignation came as a real shock to the team."

"He was still in shock an hour after the accident."

A dangerous surge of electric current passing through the body.

"He got a shock from the faulty socket."

A life-threatening medical state in which the body can't circulate enough blood and oxygen.

"Paramedics treated her for shock at the scene."

Short for shock absorber, the device that cushions a vehicle's suspension.

"The mechanic replaced both rear shocks."

verb

To surprise or upset someone strongly, or to offend their sense of decency.

"The graphic footage shocked viewers around the world."

"Nothing seems to shock him anymore."

How to Use Shock

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sudden jolt — emotional, electrical, or medical — or the reaction to something startling.

Common mistake

Medical "shock" is a serious, specific emergency condition, not just being startled — don't use it loosely in a medical context.

Common pairings

in shock a shock to the system come as a shock electric shock

shocked past tense, shocked past tense, shocks plural, shocks plural, Shocks plural, shocks singular, shocks singular

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The news of her resignation came as a real _____ to the team.

From an old Germanic root meaning to jolt or collide, arriving in English via French and Dutch influences on the word for a violent impact.

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