Shock: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ˜ฑ
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shock

 

[สƒษ’k ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

physical reaction

A sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience, which causes a strong emotional reaction.

Synonyms

jolt, surprise, trauma.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
shock

This word is suitable for situations involving sudden and often distressing news or events that affect someone deeply.

  • The news of his passing came as a shock to everyone.
  • She was in shock after the car accident.
surprise

This fits situations where something unexpected happens, but it doesn't necessarily have a negative connotation.

  • Her visit was a pleasant surprise.
  • He had a look of surprise on his face when he saw the birthday cake.
jolt

This is used for unexpected physical or emotional impacts that cause a sudden and brief reaction.

  • The unexpected phone call gave him a jolt.
  • The roller coaster ride gave everyone a jolt.
trauma

This term is appropriate for referring to severe emotional or physical distress caused by a deeply disturbing experience. It often has a long-lasting impact.

  • The soldiers returned home suffering from trauma.
  • Childhood trauma can affect adult life in various ways.

Examples of usage

  • The news of the accident came as a shock to everyone.
  • She was in shock after hearing the tragic news.
Context #2 | Verb

to cause surprise or outrage

To cause someone to feel surprised or upset because of something unexpected or outrageous.

Synonyms

astonish, outrage, surprise.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
shock

This word is used when something sudden and distressing happens, causing a strong emotional reaction. It's often associated with bad news or unexpected, negative events.

  • The announcement of their divorce shocked everyone
  • The sudden death of the young actor was a shock to his fans
surprise

Surprise is used for any unexpected event, whether good or bad. It's more neutral compared to the other words and can be used in everyday situations.

  • Her surprise party was a huge success
  • It doesn't surprise me that he got the job; heโ€™s very talented
astonish

Astonish is used when something happens that is extremely surprising and impressive, often in a positive way. It's used for events or facts that are hard to believe.

  • The magician's trick astonished the audience
  • Her ability to speak five languages fluently astonished her friends
outrage

This word carries a strong negative connotation and is used when something causes anger and indignation. Itโ€™s often related to unfair treatment or serious offenses.

  • The decision to cut down the ancient forest outraged environmental activists
  • The scandal caused outrage among the public

Examples of usage

  • The decision to close the factory shocked the employees.
  • His behavior shocked his friends.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • Originally derived from the Old English term 'scoh', meaning 'to strike' or 'hit', reflecting the suddenness of the feeling.
  • The word 'shock' was first used in the early 17th century to describe physical impacts and later evolved to include emotional responses.

Psychology

  • Experiencing shock can result from traumatic events, leading to a range of emotional responses such as confusion, fear, or numbness.
  • Psychological shock can be categorized into types like acute shock (immediate response) and delayed shock (responses that come later).

Medicine

  • In a medical context, shock refers to a serious condition where the body doesn't get enough blood flow, making it a life-threatening situation if untreated.
  • Common types of medical shock include septic shock (due to infections), hypovolemic shock (due to low blood volume), and cardiogenic shock (due to heart problems).

Pop Culture

  • The element of shock is widely used in horror films and thrillers to elicit strong reactions from audiences through sudden scares.
  • Celebrity gossip often includes shock revelations or surprises about personal lives, keeping audiences engaged and intrigued.

Physics

  • Shock waves are powerful waves traveling through mediums (like air or water) created by explosive forces, often explored in science.
  • The term 'shock' in physics is used to describe sudden changes in a system, helping to explain phenomena like sonic booms.

Translations

Translations of the word "shock" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น choque

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคเคŸเค•เคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Schock

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kejutan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัˆะพะบ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ szok

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ทใƒงใƒƒใ‚ฏ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท choc

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ choque

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท ลŸok

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ถฉ๊ฒฉ (chung-gyeok)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุตุฏู…ุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ลกok

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ ลกok

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ้œ‡ๆƒŠ (zhรจnjฤซng)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ ลกok

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ รกfall

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัˆะพะบ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒจแƒแƒ™แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ลŸok

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ choque

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,821, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.