to jar, shake, or cause to move by or as if by a sudden rough thrust; shake up roughly

The bus jolted its passengers as it went down the rocky road.

to knock sharply so as to dislodge

He jolted the nail free with a stone.

to stun with a blow, esp. in boxing.

to shock emotionally or psychologically

His sudden death jolted us all.

to bring to a desired state sharply or abruptly

to jolt a person into awareness.

to make active or alert, as by using an abrupt, sharp, or rough manner

to jolt someone's memory.

to interfere with or intrude upon, esp. in a rough or crude manner; interrupt disturbingly.

to move with a sharp jerk or a series of sharp jerks

The car jolted to a halt.

a jolting shock, movement, or blow

The automobile gave a sudden jolt.

an emotional or psychological shock

The news of his arrest gave me quite a jolt.

something that causes such a shock

The news was a jolt to me.

a sudden, unexpected rejection or defeat

Their policy got a rude jolt from the widespread opposition.

Slang . a prison sentence.

Slang . an injection of a narcotic.

a bracing dose of something

a jolt of whiskey; a jolt of fresh air.

noun

blow , bombshell , bounce , bump , clash , collision , concussion , double whammy , impact , jar , jerk , jog , jounce , jump , kick , lurch , percussion , punch , quiver , reversal , setback , shake , shock , shot , start , surprise , thunderbolt , crash , smash

verb

astonish , bowl over * , bump , churn , convulse , discompose , disturb , floor , jar , jerk , jog , jostle , knock , knock over * , lay out * , perturb , rock , shake , shake up * , shock , shove , spring something on , stagger , start , startle , stun , throw a curve , upset , electrify , blow , collision , concussion , impact , setback , surprise