A transitive verb meaning to shake, jolt, or rock (e.g., rocking a cradle); to move something back and forth or up and down.
赤ちゃんを優しく揺すって眠らせた。
I gently rocked the baby to sleep.
棚がぐらつかないか確かめるために少し揺すってみた。
I gave the shelf a slight shake to check if it was wobbly.
風で看板が揺すられている。
The signboard is being shaken by the wind.
To extort or shake someone down—i.e., to blackmail or coerce someone for money or favors.
彼らは店主を金で揺すって店を去らせた。
They shook the shop owner down for money and forced him to leave.
脅して金を取る、つまり人を揺する行為は違法だ。
Threatening someone to get money—i.e., shaking them down—is illegal.