WordGarden.iojolt
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /dʒˈəʊlt/
US
- /ˈdʒoʊlt/
Meanings
Verb
to move or shake suddenly and roughly
to shock or startle someone suddenly
Noun
a sudden rough movement or impact
a sudden shock, surprise, or emotional disturbance
a sudden burst of energy or stimulation
Beyond the definition
A jolt is a sudden shock or sharp movement that hits you fast. You might feel a jolt when a car stops suddenly, when a train bumps along the track, or when static electricity snaps at your hand. It can also be emotional or mental. Bad news can give you a jolt, and a sudden idea can give you a jolt of energy or clarity. As a verb, it means to shake, shock, or push someone or something suddenly.
The word "jolt" describes a sudden, forceful shock, shake, or surprise. It can be used as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it often refers to the quick movement you feel when a car brakes hard, a bus hits a rough patch, or a machine jerks without warning. "The wagon gave a violent jolt as it hit the pothole."
It is also common in less physical situations. A strong cup of coffee might give you a jolt of energy. Bad news can cause an emotional jolt. A surprise twist in a story can give the reader a jolt. In these cases, the word suggests something sudden that breaks your normal flow and makes you react at once.
As a verb, "jolt" means to shake or shock suddenly. A pothole can jolt the passengers in a car. A loud alarm can jolt someone awake. News, memories, or a sudden sight can jolt a person into action, fear, or recognition. The idea is the same each time: something sudden hits with enough force to disturb, wake, or shift someone or something.
So whether it is a physical bump, an emotional shock, or a quick burst of energy, "jolt" is about sudden impact. It is the kind of moment that makes the body, mind, or feelings jump out of their usual state.
Examples
- 1
Vehicle movement
The bus hit a pothole and jolted everyone in their seats.
- 2
Sudden stop
I felt a jolt as the elevator stopped suddenly.
- 3
Waking suddenly
A loud knock on the door jolted me awake.
- 4
Emotional shock
His angry reply came as a jolt.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Financial markets
The weak sales report jolted investors and sent the stock price down.
- 6
Energy boost
She drank strong coffee for a quick jolt of energy before the meeting.
- 7
Changed attitude
Losing the first game jolted them out of their overconfidence.
- Patternjolt someone out of + feeling/belief
make someone suddenly stop feeling or believing it
- 8
Major adjustment
Moving to a new country was a jolt to the system at first.
- Phrasea jolt to the system
a sudden change that is hard to adjust to
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- joltnounverb
Forms
- joltedpast tenseverbnoun
- joltspluralnounverb
- jolting-ing formverbnoun