mover and shaker

NOUN

person who makes things happen

Synonyms

WEAK

VIP achiever affluential catalyst doer enterprising person entrepreneur generator go-getter heavy hitter heavyweight leader lightning rod man of influence mover palpable presence pathfinder player presence producer spark plug trailblazer upstart wheeler and dealer whip

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"So he was a real mover and shaker of the movement".

From BBC • May 17, 2026

But before Stein was a mover and shaker, his passion for music helped change the contours of the industry.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2023

Before the invasion, Feb. 24 hadn’t been much of a mover and shaker as a date in world history.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 20, 2023

Huffman and Raskin are trying to turn their two-year-old affiliate group into more of a mover and shaker.

From Washington Post • Apr. 9, 2020

All eyes are on an agent: a protagonist, a mover and shaker, a driving force.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker