shudder
Americanverb (used without object)
noun
verb
noun
Synonym Usage
See shiver 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have shudderedperfect
-
has shudderedperfect 3rd person singular
-
is shudderingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been shudderingperfect progressive
-
has been shudderingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are shudderingprogressive
-
am shudderingprogressive 1st person singular
-
shudderssingular 3rd person
-
shudderingparticiple
Past
-
had shudderedperfect
-
were shudderingprogressive plural
-
was shudderingprogressive singular
-
had been shudderingperfect progressive
-
shudderedparticiple
-
shudderedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of shudder
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English shodderen (verb) (cognate with German schaudern, from Low German ), frequentative of Old English scūdan “to tremble”; see -er 6
Explanation
A shudder is an involuntary vibration, usually in your body, or the shaking itself. A cold breeze or an unpleasant memory might make you shudder. A shudder isn't always a bad thing. It can mean a pleasurable sensation or tingle that goes through your body, like a shudder of excitement you feel when you see your favorite star on the street. As a verb, shudder means to shake and shiver. Being really cold or seeing something that scares you — a ghost! — can make you shudder. The phrase "shudder to think" means just the thought of something upsets you enough to shudder.
Vocabulary lists containing shudder
The Lingo of Body Language
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Talk Like Shakespeare Day, List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 4: Powerful Openings
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
A documentary on Shudder from Donna Davies and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas about women’s involvement in the genre makes for an entertaining, informative trip through film history.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026
The biggest success story has been the Duplass brothers, who sold “Penelope” to Netflix, and “The Creep Tapes” to Shudder.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025
The company has spent the last several years introducing a fleet of streaming services, including AMC+ and the horror-focused Shudder, and trumpeted their growth quarter after quarter on earnings conference calls.
From New York Times • Dec. 18, 2022
Running time: 1 hour, 37 minutes Rating: Not rated Streaming: Shudder: Included.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 27, 2022
Felt the mighty King of Fishes Shudder through each nerve and fibre, Heard the water gurgle round him As he leaped and staggered through it, Sick at heart, and faint and weary.
From The Children's Own Longfellow by Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
